Page 105 - 2021 March 15th Fine Chinese Paintings and Works of Art, Bonhams NYC New York

PROPERTY FROM THE MEE-DIN AND ROBERT W. MOORE PROPERTY FROM THE MEE-DIN AND ROBERT W. MOORE
COLLECTION OF CHINESE LACQUER COLLECTION OF CHINESE LACQUER
108 109
A TIXI BLACK AND CINNABAR LACQUER SMALL A SMALL TIXI CINNABAR LACQUER CIRCULAR BOX
CIRCULAR DISH AND COVER
14th-15th Century Yuan or possibly Early Ming Dynasty (13th-15th Century)
The shallow rounded sides carved in low relief to the interior, through The shallow domed cover carved through thick cinnabar layers divided
primarily thick black lacquer layers divided by thinner cinnabar layers, by thin black layers with five ‘pommel-scrolls surrounding five c-cloud
with two rows of radiating ‘pommel-scrolls’ below a central pointed lappets centered by a single small circle, the underside with five further
motif, the rim rounded and the exterior sides with a wide classic-scroll- pommel-scrolls and centered by a circular countersunk base lacquered
like motif, a large circular countersunk base. in black (some cracks at stress points).
5 3/8in (13.7 cm) diameter 3 1/8in (7.8 cm) diameter

$3,500 - 5,500 $4,000 - 6,000

十四至十五世紀 剔犀如意雲紋圓盒 元或明早期 十三至十五世紀 剔犀如意雲紋圓盒

The Chinese term tixi can be literally translated as ‘carved rhinoceros’, For another box and cover dated to the 13th-14th century but of flatter
whilst Japanese term guri, refers to ‘pommel’ scrolls. According to profile with a single band of pommel-scrolls around a similar central
Harry Garner, Chinese Lacquer, London, 1979, p.70, the earliest design, see www.metmuseum.org, accession no. 29.100.713, where
recorded description of it (printed in 1366) explains that the term it is noted that the pommel scroll design can be found as early as
arose because of the similarities with a rider’s leather saddle, which the Song period (960-1279) and refers to the pommel of a sword, an
over time changes from black to red to brown and finally becomes a unexpected prototype for a design in another material (see the footnote
combination of all three colours. Known to have been used as early to lot 108 in this sale). It is also illustrated by James C.Y. Watt, The
as the Tang Dynasty, it rose to popularity during the Song and Yuan World of Khubilai Khan, Chinese Art in the Yuan Dynasty, Metropolitan
periods. Most publications state that the ‘pommel’ refers to the type Museum of Art, New York, 2010, p. 291, fig. 339.
found as sword furnishings but actually it makes as much sense to
refer to the shape of pommels on horse saddles, and actually more in For a very similar design on two 13th to 14th century cinnabar lacquer
keeping with the Garner reference. dishes, see Sotheby’s London, 15 May 2019, lot 65; and Christie’s
London, 7 November 2006, lot 55. For a slightly later Ming dynasty
Compare another similar but larger cinnabar lacquer dish, also with example in black lacquer, see Christie’s, New York, 17 September
two registers of ruyi-heads dated to the Southern Song period, 2008, lot 130.
illustrated in The Colours and Forms of Song and Yuan China, Nezu
Institute of Fine Arts, Tokyo, 2004, p. 142, col. pl. 68. A comparable
dish in the Tokyo National Palace Museum is illustrated in Toyo no
shikkogei:Tokubetsu ten (Far Eastern Lacquer Arts: Special Exhibition),
1977, no. 468.

A Cinnabar red lacquer dish of similar size and design, dated Song/
Yuan dynasty, is illustrated by Lee King Tsi and Hu Shih Chang, Drache
Und Phoenix, Lackarbeiten aus China, The Lee Family Collection,
Tokyo (Dragon And Phoenix, Chinese Lacquer Ware), The Museum
of East Asian Art, Cologne, 1990, pp.42-43, no. 7. For a slightly
earlier and larger Tixi black lacquer dish with three concentric rings of
‘pommel-scrolls’ see Bonhams, London, 11 November 2010, lot 424.
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