A RARE CARVED BLACKISH-BROWN AND RED LACQUER SCROLL TRAY
THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN 
A RARE CARVED BLACKISH-BROWN AND RED LACQUER SCROLL TRAY

16TH/17TH CENTURY

Details
A RARE CARVED BLACKISH-BROWN AND RED LACQUER SCROLL TRAY
16TH/17TH CENTURY
Of narrow rectangular form with slightly concave sides flaring slightly towards the rim, the concave top finely carved with a dragonfly, praying mantis and grasshopper perched in the branches of a flowering tea shrub growing from rockwork, the long sides carved with camellia sprays and each end with a dragonfly with outspread wings, all in black reserved against a dull red ground, that on the top carved with a diamond diaper pattern, the underside in lacquer of dark brown color
10¼ in. (26 cm.) long, two Japanese wood boxes

Lot Essay

This unusual tray was probably used to hold a special scroll.

The color palette and style of carving of the flower sprays is similar to that on the sides of a rectangular box and cover, illustrated in Karamono, Selections from the Tokugawa Art Museum, No. 2, Nagoya, Japan, 1997, p. 59, no. 108, dated to the Ming dynasty, 16th century. As is another lacquer scroll tray carved with birds and flowers, p. 91, no. 163, which is divided into two shallow, concave recesses on top. This double scroll tray is carved, however, in a different style and is in black lacquer only. See, also, the octagonal domed box and cover with similar style of carving of the panels on the sides and the same palette, also dated to the Ming dynasty, illustrated in Ancient Chinese Arts in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1989, no. 379.

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