AN UNUSUAL SMALL SILVER-INLAID BRONZE BOX AND COVER

QIANLONG PERIOD, WITH CYCLICAL DATE CORRESPONDING TO 1776

Details

AN UNUSUAL SMALL SILVER-INLAID BRONZE BOX AND COVER
QIANLONG PERIOD, WITH CYCLICAL DATE CORRESPONDING TO 1776
Of circular form, the convex cover is inlaid in silver with a poetic inscription fu zuo jiang bu ji nian, tao sheng fan ying wu zhen chan, ming shan zhai gong shei neng si, bu yin ren jian di er quan, followed by two silver-inlaid copper seals, seals and a cyclical Qianlong date corresponding to 1776. The edge is accented with copper splashes and pierced on one side. The convex bottom of the box is inlaid with a scene of a fisherman in a boat in the foreground below a wall, behind which can be seen pavilions flanked by a pagoda and a flag.
2½ in. (6.3 cm.) diam.

Provenance

Private East Coast collection.
Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York, 1971.

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

The inscription may be translated, 'Seated in the heart of the river, I do not count how many years it has been. Amidst the sound of waves and the shadows of the sails, I comprehend the meaning of Buddhism, What can compare to the famous mountains and Buddhist cuisine? I will not drink from the second-best fountain in the world.'

More from Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art

View All