Page 220 - Christies September 13 to 14th Fine Chinese Works of Art New York

VARIOUS PROPERTIES
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A RARE GILT-DECORATED BLACK LACQUER CART-FORM BOX
18TH CENTURY
The box of rectangular section consists of three layers raised on four movable, spoked wheels;
the top layer is a tray ftted with four L-shaped boxes surrounding a central rectangular box, the covers
decorated with foral mon on a diaper ground, the tray has a fared open-work apron of joined ruyi heads
decorated with lotus blossoms and sits on top of the lower two boxes decorated on the sides with lotus
blossoms and archaistic scrolls, all in gilding on a black lacquer ground, and with red lacquer interiors.
11æ in. (29.8 cm.) high, 16æ in. (42.5 cm.) long including wheels
$40,000-60,000

Collector’s boxes of this type were made to store precious objects. The shape and decoration of this
unusual gilt-decorated black lacquer cart-form box are similar to those of carved red lacquer prototypes
such as the example sold at Christie’s New York, 17 March 2017, lot 1112, dated to the Qianlong period.
Another two-tiered example supporting a nest of ftted boxes is illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese
Carved Lacquer Ware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1971, no. 41. Another very similar box on
wheels was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 6 April 2016, lot 3012, and a similar cart base raised on
wheels was sold at Christie’s New York, 22 March 2007, lot 159.
清十八世紀 黑漆描金輦式三層套盒

(detail of top)

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