Shen Shao’an

CHINA, Fujian, Fuzhou; Qing dynasty

Also known as Zhongkang, Shen Shao’an was a lacquerware artisan and the creator of the famous bodiless lacquerware in Fuzhou. Shen first made a clay mold, and then after gluing cloth or silk fabric onto the outside, stripped off the mold and lacquered the piece with a variety of colors. This process resulted in lightweight forms with long-lasting color, and were often used as offerings in the imperial court.
Shen excelled in creating sculptures of Maitreya Buddha and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva with vivid appearances. His sculpture of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva in dry lacquer is kept at the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan, and a wooden box lacquered wood with gold is kept at the Palace Museum in Beijing.