1993-14 Chinese Ancient Lacquerware
This set of Chinese postage stamps was issued on October 20, 1993, with the serial number 1993-14. They are lithographed, with each sheet containing 50 stamps. The complete set consists of four stamps, each with a face value of 2 yuan. The stamp dimensions are 40 x 30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 12. The designer is Wang Huming, and they were printed at the Henan Post Printing Factory. The stamps are without any yellowing.
Here is an introduction to the four stamps:
(4-1) Type: New Stone Age - Red Lacquer Wooden Bowl
Face Value: 20 fen
Issued Quantity: 106.5875 million
Description: This stamp features a red lacquer wooden bowl from the Chinese New Stone Age. Discovered in 1978 at the Hemudu Site in Yuyao County, Zhejiang Province, this bowl is the earliest known lacquerware, dating back six to seven thousand years. The oval-shaped bowl has a diameter of 9.2-10.6 cm and a base diameter of 7.2-7.6 cm. Despite significant damage to the rim and wall, the red lacquer paint still retains its luster. Currently housed in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum.
(4-2) Type: Warring States - Painted Dancing Mandarin Duck-shaped Box
Face Value: 30 fen
Issued Quantity: 75.7025 million
Description: This stamp showcases a painted dancing mandarin duck-shaped box from the Chinese Warring States period. Unearthed in 1978 at the Marquis Yi of Zeng's tomb in Suizhou City, Hubei Province, this intricately crafted box depicts a standing mandarin duck. Made of wood, the box is hollow and measures 20.1 cm in length, 12.5 cm in width, and 16.5 cm in height. The box features a wooden cover with a knob that can be opened to pour water. The body of the box is painted black with feather patterns in red and gold, and the left side of the belly is painted with a "Zhongqing Music" scene. Produced no later than 433 BC, this box is over 2400 years old and is a masterpiece of Warring States lacquerware, currently preserved in the Hubei Provincial Museum.
(4-3) Type: Yuan Dynasty - Carved Red Purple Eucalyptus Plate
Face Value: 50 fen
Issued Quantity: 58.0125 million
Description: This stamp features a carved red purple eucalyptus plate from the Chinese Yuan Dynasty. The plate has a diameter of 27 cm and is a renowned piece of carved red lacquerware. The center of the plate is carved with a fully bloomed double-petaled gardenia, surrounded by four buds and intertwining branches and leaves. The edge of the plate is adorned with carved red lacquer vine patterns. The base of the plate is black lacquer with a seal inscription reading "Made by Zhang Cheng." This plate is currently housed in the Palace Museum. Carved red lacquer is a technique that involves carving patterns on the base lacquer layer. It typically involves layering lacquer multiple times, sometimes up to two hundred layers. Zhang Cheng was a renowned master of carved red lacquer during the Yuan Dynasty, particularly known for his work with this technique.
(4-4) Type: Qing Dynasty - Chrysanthemum-shaped Red Lacquer Box
Face Value: 100 fen
Issued Quantity: 43.0175 million
Description: This stamp features a chrysanthemum-shaped red lacquer box from the Chinese Qing Dynasty. The box, shaped like chrysanthemum petals, is a refined lacquerware piece. With a diameter of 15.3 cm and a height of 9 cm, the lacquer surface is bright and glossy. The base material is made of silk and raw lacquer, with a coral-like red color. It is a representative work of Qing Dynasty court lacquerware. The interior of the base is coated with shiny black lacquer, and engraved with a seal inscription in gold-filled seal script reading "Made in the Qianlong Reign" in two lines, along with a five-character poem. Currently part of the Palace Museum's collection.