Page 27 - Scholarly Works of Art Hong Kong Sothebys March 3 2019

fig. 1 fig. 2
Hardstone-inlaid birchwood box and cover, late Ming dynasty Hardstone-inlaid zitan tiered box and cover, late Ming dynasty
Qing court collection Qing Court collection
© Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing © Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing
圖ー 圖二
明末 樺木百寶嵌玉堂富貴紋盒 清宮舊藏 © 北京故宮博物院藏品 明末 紫檀百寶嵌壽帶桃樹雙層蓋盒 清宮舊藏 © 北京故宮博物院藏品

As mentioned earlier, the inlay technique seen on the and chairs, window frames and bookcases; for smaller
present box was first developed and made popular by Zhou objects he is known for his brushpots, tea services, ink
Zhu who was active during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor stone cases and items for the scholar’s studio. Qian Yong
(r. 1521-1567) of the Ming dynasty. Zhou’s workshop was describes these multi-coloured and multifarious objects
located in the city of Yangzhou in Jiangsu province. By the as all of them spectacular articles that had never existed
Ming period Yangzhou, lying north of the Yangtze river and before. 1
at the southern terminus of the Grand Canal, was a thriving The Palace Museum in Beijing has one of the most
centre for the arts and culture. It was of national importance comprehensive collection of inlaid artefacts – boxes, screens
for the salt trade and commerce, serving as the base for and brush holders – from the late Ming to the Qing periods,
wealthy salt merchant families who became patrons of the illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the
arts and letters. The city made its name for artists such as Palace Museum. Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros
the ‘Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou (Yangzhou baguai)’ who Horn Carvings, op.cit., nos 219-228, 230-234, including the
became a notable group of painters in the 18th century, as pair to the present box, no. 223. See another related box,
well as for the many artisans, such as Zhou Zhu, who set luxuriously embellished on all sides with gems forming
up workshops producing artefacts and whose products flowers, fruits and birds, included in The Palace Museum
were much coveted by the elite and the wealthy throughout Collection of Elite Carvings, Beijing, 2002, pl. 98 (fig. 2). A
the empire. The scholar artist and calligrapher Qian Yong further example of an inlaid box decorated with a hunting
(1759-1844) in his Lüyuan congzhi [Collection of talks from scene, from the collection of Mr and Mrs Gerard Hawthorn,
walking in the garden] mentions Zhou Zhu as one who recently sold in these rooms, 31st May 2018, lot 31, together
devised an inlay method which is known as the Zhou zhi. with a tray attributed to the workshop of Zhou, lot 7, from
Qian explains how this method used precious metals such the same collection. Another outstanding work attributed to
as gold and silver, precious stones, pearls, raw copper ore, Zhou is the inlaid zitan box and cover sold in these rooms,
turquoise, mother-of-pearl, ivory, amber, and aloes wood 16th/17th November 1988, lot 256, and again, 4th April 2012,
to represent landscapes, human figures, trees, elaborate lot 179, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection.
buildings, flowers and plants, birds and animals, inlaid into
sandalwood, huanghuali wood and lacquerware. Zhou’s 1 Qian Yong, Lüyuan congzhi [Collection of talks from walking in the garden],
works include large furniture pieces such as screens, tables Beijing, 1979.

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