Page 108 - Sotheby's Speelman Collection Oct. 3, 2018

Exquisitely carved with the powerful design of an en face Museum collection, Taipei, decorated with a central dragon
dragon depicted rising amongst cresting waves and hovering over the sea below a shou medallion, surrounded by
scrolling clouds, towards another dimension of heaven, this Eight Treasures with medallion enclosed phoenixes, included
polychrome lacquer box was made to reassert the absolute in the museum exhibition Carving the Subtle Radiance of
authority of the Qianlong Emperor as the Son of Heaven over Colours: Treasured lacquerware in the National Palace
the living world and the cosmos. Rendered with ferocious Museum, The National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, no. 90.
expressions, gaping jaws that reveal sharp fangs, bulbous Compare a rectangular carved polychrome lacquer ‘dragon
eyes and flaring nostrils, the muscular dragons thrash through and longevity’ box of Wanli period in the Palace Museum,
the clouds to create a brilliant scene of intense strength Beijing, published in Carved Lacquer in the Collection of the
and energy. Moreover, the deep carving and use of three Palace Museum, Beijing, 1985, no. 231. The design of the
contrasting colours accentuate the sense of movement and frontal dragon, as well as the water chestnut flower-shaped
three-dimensionality. enclosure, is closely related to the current piece.
The design of this rare carved polychrome lacquer box shows Although the front-facing dragon motif is seen on few Ming
influence of its Ming prototypes and epitomises the taste of lacquer works, it became more popular in the early Qing
the Qing emperors. Polychrome lacquer was used mainly dynasty. For instance, a carved yellow lacquer throne in the
from the Jiajing period (1522-66) onwards, and the technique Palace Museum collection, Beijing, is decorated with a frontal
gradually reached its maturity during the Wanli period. Early dragon on its central panel, fiercely staring at the viewers
examples from the Jiajing period including a large carved with claws , similar to the current box. It is inscribed with an
polychrome lacquer box and cover in the National Palace apocryphal mark of the Xuande period but attributed to the