Page 129 - Christies King St. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

†175 The motifs decorating this box and others like it are all very auspicious. The
character Chun (Spring) on the cover is also a metaphor for youth. Combined
A CARVED POLYCHROME LACQUER ‘SPRING’ CIRCULAR BOX with the overlaying roundel of Shoulao, the God of Longevity, the box
AND COVER would have represented wishes for eternal youth. These combined with the
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795) other imagery: the dragons amidst clouds, the rays rising from the bowl of
‘treasures’ and the Buddhist emblems arrayed around the sides also add to
清乾隆 剔紅開光壽春紋捧盒 the auspicious nature of the box.

The top of the cover has a circular panel and is deeply carved on a green Wan- Qing dynasty boxes of this design were inspired by Jiajing period examples
diaper ground with a bowl of Precious Objects, radiating red, green and yellow (1522-1566) such as the one in the National Palace Museum, illustrated in
rays illuminating the large character Chun, ‘Spring’, centred with a roundel Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colors. Treasured Lacquerware in the National
enclosing Shoulao and a deer in a landscape. The central motif is fanked by a Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, pl. 87; and another one included in the Hong
pair of sinuous dragons amidst scrolling clouds. The rounded sides of the box Kong O.C.S exhibition, 2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer, Art Gallery, Chinese
and cover are carved with panels of scholars and attendants, divided by the University of Hong Kong, 24 September - 21 November 1993, pp.120-1, no.
Babao. The interior and base are black lacquered. 61. These boxes were so admired by the Qianlong Emperor that he ordered a
number of copies during his reign, and they were frequently used to hold food
12¿ in. (30.8 cm.) diam. presented as a ceremonial gift at the lunar new year or for birthdays.

£30,000-50,000 $46,000-76,000
€41,000-68,000

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