Page 128 - Bonhams Asian Art London November 5, 2020

It is possible that the present cabinet may be the pair to an identical
zitan and hardwood cabinet, 18th/19th century, which was sold
at Christie’s South Kensington, 2013, 11 May 2016, lot 369. Also
compare with a related zitan and hardwood cabinet, 18th century,
which was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 29 May 2007, lot 1398.

Duobao ge 多寶格 (literally meaning ‘multiple treasure cabinets’)
began in the early Qing dynasty and may have evolved from the mid
Ming period Liang’ge gui cabinets. Qing dynasty palace archives
typically identify these types of cabinets ‘bogu shuge’ (literally meaning
‘extensive antique and book cabinets’), because the upper section
was used to display antiques, whilst the lower section was used to
store books and scrolls.

The Imperial Household Department archives frequently mention the
Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors discussing the design of these
type of zitan cabinets. Both the Kangxi and Yongzheng emperors
greatly admired Japanese lacquer, and many pieces from the latter’s
reign are lacquered and decorated showing strong Japanese influence.

Compare with two similar zitan display cabinets in the Qing Court
Collection, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures
of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties,
vol.2, Beijing, 2002, p.254, no.216 and p.269, no. 28.

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