Page 124 - Bonhams Asian and Chinese Art London Nov. 2019

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A CARVED LACQUER ‘PEONY’ INCENSE BOX AND COVER
Early Ming Dynasty
The cover with a central majestic blossoming peony surrounded by
trailing foliage and smaller buds, the deeply carved design revealing
the bright orange ground underneath, the box carved en-suite,
Japanese box and silk pouch. 5.4cm (2 1/4in) (5).
£6,000 - 8,000
HK$59,000 - 78,000
CNY53,000 - 71,000

Lacquer boxes of this small delicate size were generally used for
keeping rouge or as incense boxes to hold aromatic pellets and
pieces of scented wood. The attractive floral carving also suggests
that it was probably made for a lady to be used in her chamber.

Compare two closely related examples held in museum collections;
one in the Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya, illustrated in Imported
Lacquerwork – Chinese, Korean and Ryukyuan (Okinawa), Tokyo,
1997, pl. 59; and one in the National Palace Museum, Taipei,
published in Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquer Ware, Taipei, 1971,
pl. 18.

A box with similar decoration, but slightly larger size, was sold By
Christies, Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong,
30 November 2016, lot 3427.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
122 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.