KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)

Details

AN INCISED AND GILT POLYCHROME LACQUER CABINET
KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
The blackish-brown lacquered rectangular cabinet is supported on four short cabriole legs interconnected by bracket-lobed aprons. Each door is decorated with an ogival panel enclosing a pair of pheasants amidst flowering plants and rocks highlighted in red and olive-green, all reserved on a diaper ground. Similar scenes are repeated on the sides and the top, and the back is covered in black lacquer. The corners, handles and hinges are set with gilt-metal fittings decorated with striding dragons amidst scrolling clouds. The red-lacquered interior is fitted with a single shelf.
23 1/4 in. (59.1 cm.) high

Provenance

Sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 May 2005, lot 570
Offered at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2012, lot 4086

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

The present lot is a fine example of lacquer wares that showcases both incision and painting techniques in one, resulting a similar effect as the technique known as qiangjin tianqi. The shape of the present cabinet can be compared to a to mid-Qing dynasty zitan cabinet with cabriole legs and aprons in the collection of Palace Museum, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Ming and Qing Furniture in the Palace Museum- 16-Shelving. Cabinet. Coffer. Chest, Beijing, 2015, no. 88. The decorative motif of pheasants and flowers are similar to a Qing dynasty qiangjin caiqi cabinet door in the Palace Museum collection, illustrated by Wang Shixiang, Ancient Chinese Lacquer, Beijing, 1987, pl 140.

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