Page 117 - 2020 October 8 HK Fine Classical Paintings

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PROPERTY FROM THE KAISENDO MUSEUM 明十六至十七世紀 剔紅人物故事圖四撞方盒
A RARE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER FOUR-
TIERED BOX AND COVER
MING DYNASTY, 16TH – 17TH CENTURY
of square section with chamfered corners, the cover carved
with a scholar on a boat in a lakeside landscape with pine trees
and a pavilion, the sides carved with varying floral blooms
borne on leafy branches, all resting atop a splayed floral frieze,
the interior and base lacquered black. Japanese wood box
17 cm, 6⅝ in.

HK$ 400,000-600,000
US$ 52,000-78,000

It is rare to find a Ming dynasty four-tiered lacquer box and
cover of this quality, with such balanced proportion, careful
carving and serene design. The theme of scholars in a pavilion
setting was a popular subject on lacquer wares from the early
Ming dynasty and closely follow fan paintings, such as Waiting
for Guests by Lamplight by the Song painter Ma Lin (1194-
1264), illustrated in Mary Tregear, Chinese Art, London, 1980,
pl. 102.
Another cinnabar lacquer four-tiered box and cover formerly
in the collection of Viscount Naonori Matsudaira, was sold in
our London rooms, 11th May 2011, lot 121 and again in our New
York rooms, 13th September 2017, lot 47. See also closely
related boxes include one in the Palace Museum published in
200 Objects You Should Know: Carved Lacquer Ware, Beijing,
2008, pl. 56; another from the collection of Dr Ip Yee sold in
our Hong Kong rooms, 19th November 1984, lot 115.

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