Page 315 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art Nov 2013 London

This remarkably imposing pair of lacquer vases
and stands are a very fine example of lacquer
production in the very late 18th century or possibly
the first decades of the 19th century. The quality
and style of carving, as well as the generous use of
negative space emphasising the carved design are
typical to the style prevalent during the Qianlong
period and which naturally would have continued
onto the subsequent Jiaqing reign. The darker tone
of the red lacquer and fine lappet border on the
stands can be attributed to the late 18th century
and onto the 19th century.
Compare the pair of archaistic carved lacquer
vases, cyclically dated to 1784, from the British
Museum, illustrated by Derek Clifford, Chinese
Carved Lacquer, London, 1992, p.135, pl.109,
with similarly carved lotus scroll borders; see also
a related cinnabar lacquer vase, 18th/19th century,
illustrated in Chen Huixia, Carving the Subtle
Radiance of Colors: Treasured Lacquerware in the
National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, pl.166.
A related smaller carved three-colour lacquer four-
lobed vase, Qianlong, was sold at Christie’s New
York, 19 March 2009, lot 592.

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