Page 142 - Christie's London Fine Chinese Ceramics Nov. 2019

■*121
A PAIR OF RARE LARGE MOTHER-OF-
PEARL-INLAID LACQUER CABINETS
MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY
The front of each cabinet is lavishly decorated with
butterfies in fight around tall peony branches and
rocks. The sides are decorated with circular and
rectangular panels enclosing birds and branches
bearing fowers and fruits. The cabinet doors
open to reveal three shelves, all supported on four
shaped feet.
74º in. (188.5 cm.) high, 46Ω in. (118 cm.) wide, 22
in. (56 cm.) deep (2)
£80,000-120,000 US$99,000-150,000
€91,000-140,000
The present pair of cabinets are outstanding
examples of the meticulous and skilful technique
of mother-of-pearl inlay on lacquer, which can
be seen on Chinese furniture throughout the
Ming dynasty. It is rare to fnd two cabinets
remaining as a pair. Compare the very similar
style of mother-of-pearl inlay seen on the present
cabinets to that found on an inlaid black lacquer
bed dated to the Ming dynasty, illustrated in The
Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace
Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
(I), Hong Kong, 2002, pp. 10-11, no. 3. The way
the branches are flled with multiple irregularly-
shaped mother-of-pearl pieces is particularly
comparable in this case. A single Ming dynasty
mother-of-pearl inlaid black lacquer compound
cabinet from the Blumenfeld Collection was sold
at Christie’s New York, 22 March 2012, lot 1338.
Another single cabinet, dating to the 17th-18th
century, sold at Christie’s New York, 24 March
2011, lot 1356 and represents the transition of
mother-of-pearl inlaid lacquer furniture from the
Ming dynasty to the Kangxi period (1662-1722).

明十六世紀 漆嵌螺鈿大櫃一對

140 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.