A CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER ZHADOU AND COVER, 18TH CENTURY China. The zhadou has a wide everted rim carved on top with lotus flowers within a ruyi-head border and incised on the underside with leafy lotus sprays below ruyi heads, all above the slightly rounded sides carved with hexagonal floral diaper. The domed cover is carved en suite around a circle of petal lappets at the base of the semispherical imitation-amber glass finial. The interior and base are entirely covered in black lacquer.

Provenance: From a noted French private collection.
Condition: Good condition with old wear, expected age cracks, few losses, some nicks here and there. Fine, naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 174.0 g
Dimensions: Diameter 14.6 cm

Expert's note: The Sanxitang (Three Treasures Hall) was a private study of the Qianlong Emperor. It was so named because it was used to house his favorite three pieces of calligraphy, “Timely Clearing after Snowfall” by Wang Xizhi, “Mid-Autumn” by Wang Xianzhi, and “A Letter to Boyuan” by Wang Xun. The hall also houses a closely related zhadou along with a number of other important scholar's objects made during the period.

Literature comparison:
Lacquer zhadou with covers of this type appear to have been carved with various decorations, and have rims of various shapes. One carved with the sanduo and dated to the Qianlong period is illustrated by S. Kwan in Chinese Lacquer, Hong Kong, 2010, pp. 290-91, no. 103. Also illustrated, page 290, is a photograph from the Sanxitang in which a similar zhadou and cover are shown. Another related example carved with flower scroll, dated 18th century, in the Shenyang Palace Museum, is illustrated by R. L. Thorpe in Son of Heaven: Imperial Arts of China, Seattle, 1988, page 96, no. 28.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 23 March 2012, lot 1710
Price: USD 10,000 or approx. EUR 12,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved red lacquer zhadou and cover, 18^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of carving with similar lotus blossoms, petal lappets, and hexagonal floral diaper. Note the similar size (15.3 cm) and lack of a finial.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Galerie Zacke, Vienna, 16 October 2021, lot 454
Price: EUR 12,008 or approx. EUR 13,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved cinnabar lacquer zhadou and cover, mid-Qing
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of carving with similar ruyi-head rim, lotus blossoms, petal lappets, and hexagonal floral diaper. Note the similar size (15 cm) and gilt bronze finial.



十八世紀剔紅纏枝蓮紋渣斗
中國。渣斗寬邊折沿如意紋，蓋上剔紅纏枝蓮紋，渣斗外壁錦地紋。蓋上仿琥珀琉璃鈕。渣斗內黑漆。

來源：法國知名私人收藏。
品相：狀況良好，有磨損和年齡裂縫，邊緣有缺損，大面積刻痕，整體包漿細膩。

重量：174.0 克
尺寸：直徑 14.6 厘米

專家注釋：三希堂，古時是清高宗弘曆即乾隆帝的書房。 “三希”即“士希賢，賢希聖，聖希天”，士人希望成為賢人，賢人希望成為聖人，聖人希望成為知天之人，也就是鼓勵自己不懈追求，勤奮自勉。書房名為“三希堂”，乾隆十一年（公元1746年）間在此收藏了晉朝大書法家王羲之的《快雪時晴帖》、王獻之的《中秋帖》和王珣的《伯遠帖》。在乾隆帝的三希堂裏曾存放了一件相似的渣斗和其他文房用品。

文獻比較：
這種類型的帶蓋渣斗，有各種雕刻和裝飾，並有各種形狀的邊框。一件乾隆時期三多渣斗，見S. Kwan，《Chinese Lacquer》，香港，2010年，頁290-91，編號103；也見頁290，一張三希堂的照片裡有相似的渣斗。 另一件相近的十八世紀花纏枝渣斗，收藏於瀋陽博物館，見R. L. Thorpe，《Son of Heaven: Imperial Arts of China》，西雅圖，1988年，頁96，編號28。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2012年3月23日，lot 1710
價格：USD 10,000（相當於今日EUR 12,500）
描述：清十八世紀剔紅花卉紋渣斗
專家評論：比較非常相近的外型和花卉雕刻、寬邊折沿如意紋、六邊形花紋。請注意相似的尺寸(15.3厘米) ，但蓋上沒有鈕。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：維也納Zacke藝廊，2021年10月16日，lot 454
價格：EUR 12,008（相當於今日EUR 13,000）
描述：清代中期剔紅如意纏枝蓮紋渣斗
專家評論：比較非常相近的外型、寬邊折沿如意紋、蓮花花瓣、六邊形花紋。請注意相似的尺寸(15厘米) 和鎏金銅鈕。