A LARGE CINNABAR LACQUER BOX AND COVER

细节

A LARGE CINNABAR LACQUER BOX AND COVER
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

The upper surface of the cover exquisitely carved to depict a lake scene with two Daoist fairies seated on a mat floating on turbulent waves, approaching a terraced pavilion detailed with Daoist immortals and fairies, all within a key-fret circular border, the rounded sides carved with lotus blooms amidst a dense foliage-ground, repeated on the box above a short foot ring carved with a key-fret band, the interiors gilt-decorated with a stylised shou-character surrounded by bats in flight amidst ruyi clouds on a black lacquer ground
18 5/8 in. (47.3 cm.) diam.

拍品专文

Lacquer boxes were produced mainly for the storage of food stuffs. The present box with its carved Daoist immortal scene on the exterior combined with gilt-decorated interiors of shou and bats in flight, would suggest that it would have contained special items probably given as a birthday gift.