AN IMPERIAL CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER PEACH-SHAPED BOX AND COVER

QIANLONG SIX-CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

Details

AN IMPERIAL CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER PEACH-SHAPED BOX AND COVER
QIANLONG SIX-CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)
The cover is finely carved through thick layers of cinnabar lacquer with a peach-shaped medallion depicting a landscape scene with Han Xiangzi, one of the Eight Immortals, playing flute and accompanied by attendant under a pine tree on the river bank, against three diaper grounds representing air, water and land, bordered with a rim comprised of alternating pair of peaches, bats and florets. The rounded sides of the cover and box are embellished with hexagonal diaper enclosing florets, and the rims with keyfret bands. A band of upright lappets encircles the foot. The interior of the cover is lacquered black and incised and gilt with the characters Jiuru baohe, 'Jiuru treasure box', and the base of the box with an incised and gilt six-character Qianlong mark.
6 1/2 in. (16.6 cm.), box

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Lot Essay

It is clear that the Qianlong Emperor had deep interest in lacquer art for it was during his reign when a large number of lacquer wares of superb quality were made for the imperial court with a wide array of new decorative motifs and shapes. Peach-shaped boxes like the current lot were one of the many novelties made during this time. Another innovation by the Qianlong court is the allocation of a specific name to lacquer boxes, as on the current box. Jiuru is a term expressing auspicious birthday wishes. Together with the imagery of the peach, which is associated with longevity, this box is very likely to be made as a birthday present.

Compare a peach-shaped box of similar size depicting Zhang Guolao in a landscape in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, and illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Carved Lacquer Ware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1981, pl. 60.

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