Live Auction 2325Important Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art
A VERY RARE LATE MING CARVED ZITAN 'DRAGON' CHEST
Lot 1654THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN 

A VERY RARE LATE MING CARVED ZITAN 'DRAGON' CHEST

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HKD 1,080,000

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A VERY RARE LATE MING CARVED ZITAN 'DRAGON' CHEST
MING DYNASTY, 16TH/17TH CENTURY

The canted top lid constructed in three sections, the top panel, the sloped and straight frame all carved in high relief with lively five-clawed dragons in pursuit of 'flaming pearls', highlighted with gold applique and framed by a wide beaded edge, the chest with similar paired and single dragons leaping above waves, supported on a curvilinear shaped base frame carved with lotus scrolls, mounted with a baitong front plate with hasp and lock receptacles, loop handles and rectangular strap hinges
18 3/4 in. (47.6 cm.) high

Grace Wu Bruce

Specialist note

It is extremely rare to find gold appliqué on precious hardwood furniture, with no extant examples recorded. However, the vigorous carving of the five-clawed dragons, the gold appliqué, as well as the now missing hall mark, would suggest an imperial provenance.

This exceptional Ming court chest of unusual large size closely resembles the lacquer pieces in the Qing court collection, but there are no published examples of zitan chests from the Ming dynasty in the Palace Museum or the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.