A RARE LARGE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER RECTANGULAR BOX AND COVER

Details

A RARE LARGE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER RECTANGULAR BOX AND COVER
LATE MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

Of elongated rectangular form, finely carved on the top of the cover with the scene of a literary gathering of scholars and their attendants at the Lanting Pavilion, the various groups floating cups on lotus leaves downstream, gathered around a low table in animated discussion, drinking tea and admiring the scene from a pavilion set in an idyllic landscape with a bridge arched over a winding stream, the banks with pine and wutong trees and rockwork, all against various diaper grounds, the curved sides of box and cover scattered with ribboned auspicious emblems and the rims with broad key-fret bands, the box raised on four feet at the corners, the base and interiors lacquered black (corners and rims repaired, age cracks stabilised)
23 in. (58.5 cm.) wide

Provenance

Derek Clifford, no. 59.

Lot Essay

The imagery of numerous scholars gathering together to enjoy the pleasures of drinking and poetry composition originated from the famous preface by Wang Xizhi (A.D. 307-65) bearing the title Lanting Xu, 'Preface (written) at the Orchid Pavilion'. This ideal prevailed throughout Chinese history to become a widespread theme that manifested in painting and works of art.

Cf. three elongated oblong-form boxes from the mid Ming period also decorated with scenes of scholars, illustrated in Carved Lacquer in Collection of the Palace Museum, Wenwu chubanshe, 1985, pls. 111, 146, and 149.

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