QIANLONG (1736-95)

Details

A THREE-COLOUR LACQUER BOX AND COVER
QIANLONG (1736-95)
Of square shape with rounded corners, deeply carved through layers of cinnabar-red, dark green and ochre lacquer, with a pair of sinuous five-clawed dragons leaping above turbulent waves crashing against pointed rocks, confronting a stylised shou roundel amidst flames and ruyi clouds, enclosed within a key-fret border with canted corners echoing the shape of the box, the sides and box with Buddhist emblems to the corners and within shaped cartouches, all reserved on geometric grounds
7½ in. (19 cm.) wide

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

A tray of this unusual design was sold in these Rooms, 10 June 1996, lot 8; and another is illustrated in Carved Lacquer in the Collection of the Palace Museum, 1985, pl. 331. Carved in the style of a Jiajing lacquerware, this box was evidently inspired by the mid-Ming prototype illustrated, ibid., pl. 175, which has a similar composition to the present lot.

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