17TH/EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Details

A MOTHER-OF-PEARL-INLAID BLACK LACQUER SQUARE-CORNER CABINET, FANGJIAOGUI
17TH/EARLY 18TH CENTURY
Of square corner form, inlaid in mother-of-pearl in the interior with a basket of flowers and clusters of flowers emerging from rockwork, separated by a single shelf and flanked by further floral inlays, above the panel doors fitted flush and inlaid with further baskets of flowers beneath a lengthy inscription and one seal, the sides inlaid with floral sprays above panels of squirrels and grapevine
70¾ in. (180 cm.) high, 35¼ in. (89.5 cm.) wide, 18¾ in. (47.6 cm.) deep

Provenance

Fugendo, Tokyo.

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Lot Essay

The inlaid inscription on the front of the cabinet is taken from chapter 16 of the Zunsheng Bajian (Eight Treatises on Proper Living) first published in 1591 by the Ming dynasty author, Gao Lian, which describes the ideal qualities the blossoms of a tea bush should have. The inscription is followed by one seal reading 'Zhang Yicheng yin' (seal of Zhang Yicheng).

Compare the very similar style of mother-of-pearl inlay seen on the present lot to that found on an inlaid black lacquer bed dated to the Ming dynasty, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (I), Hong Kong, 2002, pp. 10-11, no. 3.

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