18TH CENTURY

Collector's boxes of this type were made to store precious objects. The shape and decoration of this unusual gilt-decorated black lacquer cart-form box are similar to those of carved red lacquer prototypes such as the example sold at Christie's New York, 17 March 2017, lot 1112, dated to the Qianlong period. Another two-tiered example supporting a nest of fitted boxes is illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Carved Lacquer Ware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1971, no. 41. Another very similar box on wheels was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 6 April 2016, lot 3012, and a similar cart base raised on wheels was sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 2007, lot 159.