The pair to this cabinet from the Toms collection sold at Sotheby's London, 7 June 1995, lot 131.

Although cinnabar lacquer appears to be a popular choice for scholar's objects, it is highly unusual to find miniature display cabinets complete with imitation books. The only other closely comparable examples appear to be a lacquered miniature, in imitation of a square-corner cabinet, from the Palace Museum, Beijing, measuring 60.5 cm. high and 39.5 cm. wide, is illustrated in Zhongguao Meishu Quanji, Qing, vol. 6, no. 230; and another sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 9 October 2007, lot 1645.

Compare the boxes with related objects from the scholar's desk, such as the cinnabar lacquer stationery set, also from the Palace Museum, displayed on a waisted tray comprising a brushpot, two seals, a covered ink stone box, a rectangular box, a pen and a box in imitation of bound books, illustrated ibid., no. 232. Another stationery set was included in the exhibition, Qing Legacies: The Art of Imperial Packaging of Qing Dynasty, Macau, 2001, and illustrate in the Catalogue, no. 33. Compare also a cinnabar lacquer box modelled as a book, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 31 October 2000, lot 1012.