A VERY RARE CARVED BROWN LACQUER SQUARE TRAY

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A VERY RARE CARVED BROWN LACQUER SQUARE TRAY
MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY

The square tray with indented corners, finely carved through the top layer of rich brown lacquer to the cinnabar-red diaper-ground, with a scene of an official standing on the bow of a sailboat, approaching a palatial residence, the name Teng Wang Ge inscribed over the gateway, with several scholars gathered on the balustraded terrace and on the upper storey overlooking the lake and landscaped gardens, the sides of the tray with four pairs of birds perched on branches of the flowers of the four seasons, each pair enclosed within a shaped cartouche, the exterior with a floral diaper motif, raised on a key-fret foot ring
8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm.) square, Japanese wood box

Lot Essay

The name inscribed over the gateway of the palace describes it as the Teng Wang Palace in Nancheng, Jiangxi Province, which was reputed for its fine architecture, magnificent lakeside views, and according to the poet Wang Bo, an ideal venue for the gathering of intellectuals and the literati.

The carving on the present tray is outstanding, with much attention paid to the detailing of the palace architectural features. It is also very rare to find the name of a specific location specified on lacquerware. Compare this with a slightly earlier cinnabar lacquer circular dish carved with a similar composition, this time describing the palace as the Orchid Pavilion, and with the addition of a date, second year of Hongzhi, corresponding to 1489; cf. the collection of Lady Garner, illustrated by Sir Harry Garner, Chinese Lacquer, London, 1979, col. pl. C and fig. 61.

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