QIANLONG SIX-CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

It is clear that the Qianlong Emperor had deep interest in lacquer art for it was during his reign when a large number of lacquer wares of superb quality were made for the imperial court with a wide array of new decorative motifs and shapes. Peach-shaped boxes like the current lot were one of the many novelties made during this time. Another innovation by the Qianlong court is the allocation of a specific name to lacquer boxes, as on the current box. Jiuru is a term expressing auspicious birthday wishes. Together with the imagery of the peach, which is associated with longevity, this box is very likely to be made as a birthday present.

Compare a peach-shaped box of similar size depicting Zhang Guolao in a landscape in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, and illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Carved Lacquer Ware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1981, pl. 60.