"Autumn Offerings" Painted Trunk

Adorned with the prized collection of a Qing-dynasty scholar, this decorated trunk lays out an array of treasured items as a tribute to autumn. Beautifully painted with a skilled hand, the trunk celebrates the season with offerings of chrysanthemums, nestled amidst an assortment of auspicious objects, including a ruyi scepter, a scholars' rock, and an incense censer. Accompanying these offerings is a line of poetry extolling the beauty of autumn chrysanthemums, written by To Yu Min, a well-known poet from the Jin Dynasty (c. 317-420). We love the way the trunk’s rich surface and muted colors lend a sense of mystery to this celebration of autumn.