A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE DIAMOND-SHAPED CINNABAR LACQUER TRAY

细节

A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE DIAMOND-SHAPED CINNABAR LACQUER TRAY
MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY

Of an unusual elongated diamond shape, the intricate carved decoration confined to the flaring sides encircling the brown-lacquered interior and base of conforming diamond shape, the cavetto finely carved with sixteen luohan, seated, either singly or in pairs, within grottos surrounded by trees and plants, each group against a different diaper ground, the reverse with a peony scroll bearing twelve blossoms against an ochre-yellow ground
11 1/4 in. (29.2 cm.) wide, wood box

来源

Hirase Family, Osaka

拍品专文

The present tray appears to be unique, as no other similar piece appears to have been published. It is possible that it was a specially commissioned piece, made to support a particular vessel for tea ceremony or for ritual. The carving is exceptionally fine, with every detail well rendered.

The shape of the tray is also very distinctive. The closest comparison to it is an undecorated Ming-dynasty brown lacquer tray with bracket lobes from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, illustrated in Hai-Wai Yi-Chen, Chinese Art in Overseas Collections, Lacquerware, Taiwan, 1987, pl. 90.