Page 128 - Christies King St. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

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A MINIATURE CINNABAR LACQUER ‘BOYS’ BOX AND COVER
MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY

明十六世紀 剔紅嬰戲圖小蓋盒

The domed cover is carved with two boys dancing beneath an overhanging
blossoming branch beside rocks. The box is carved with further fowers, all on
geometric grounds.

2¿ in. (5.3 cm.) wide, wood box

£4,000-6,000 $6,100-9,100
€5,500-8,200

174

A MINIATURE MOTHER-OF-PEARL-INLAID ‘FLORAL’ LACQUER
BOX AND COVER
17TH CENTURY

明十七世紀 螺鈿花卉紋小圓蓋盒「千里」款

The box is of shallow circular form and is decorated to the cover and the sides
of the box with geometric foral designs surrounding a central chrysanthemum
fower. The interiors of each are decorated with further fower sprays. The base
of the box is inlaid in gold with a Qianli two-character mark.

1¬ in. (4.3 cm.) diam.

£4,000-6,000 $6,100-9,100
€5,500-8,200

The present lot is believed to be a work by the late Ming master in inlaid
lacquer ware, Jiang Qianli. A Qianli-marked hexafoil box was included in
the exhibition of The Hong Kong Oriental Ceramics Society, Arts from the
Scholar’s Studio, Hong Kong, 1986, Catalogue p. 169, no. 144, where the
authors discuss the remarkable skill shown in the fne inlay work. A pair
of circular boxes with Qianli marks were sold at Christie’s New York, 19
September 2007, lot 34.

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