15TH/16TH CENTURY

Details

A RARE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER BOX AND COVER
15TH/16TH CENTURY
Of circular shape, the cover deeply carved through the layers of lacquer with a coiled writhing chilong amongst ruyi, the sides of the box carved with a band of scrolling motifs, all reserved on dark yellow grounds, the interior and base black lacquered
3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.) diam.

Provenance

Derek Clifford Collection, no. 85

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium

Lot Essay

See the large Yongle example in the Palace Museum, Beijing, which bears similar depiction of lingzhi fungi, and comparable chilong dragons, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures in the Palace Museum - Yuan and Ming Lacquer, Hong Kong, 2006, p. 40, no. 25. Compare also the example dated to the late Song to early Yuan dynasty, illustrated in East Asian Lacquer - The Florence and Herbert Irving Collection, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, pl. 16. A cinnabar lacquer box and cover carved with chilong and lotus, datd to the 16th century, was sold at Sotheby's London, 8th November 2006, lot 14.

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