A SMALL CINNABAR LACQUER BOX AND COVER, YUAN TO MID-MING DYNASTY

Expert’s note:
Recent research into the dating of carved lacquer has put forward the suggestion that boxes of this type with double key-fret decoration on the rim and relatively large figures or landscape scenes with rock formations on the cover can be dated as early as the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). The strongest argument in favor of this early dating is the relatively recent discovery of a similar, somewhat larger box in a group of tombs near Shanghai that belonged to the Ren family, of which the latest was datable to 1351 and the earliest to 1338.

China, mid-14th to 16th century. The five-sided box and cover is finely carved in relief to the top depicting an elderly scholar and his boy attendant framed by rock formations with vegetation and a protruding pine branch, all below swirling clouds. The ground the two figures are standing on is decorated with neatly incised floral lozenge diaper. The sides of the box and the cover are carved with bands of S-shaped key fret. The interior and base are lacquered in black.


Provenance:
From an old Japanese private collection. British trade, acquired from the above.

Condition:
Excellent condition with minor old wear, traces of use as expected. Good patina.

Weight: 32.8 g
Dimensions: Width 6.2 cm

With a Japanese wood storage box containing a paper inscribed in Japanese, ‘Tsuishu kogo’ (A carved red lacquer incense box). (2)


The five-sided shape of this box
is extremely rare and is imbued with auspicious symbolism. Five is considered a sacred number in China, representing the Five Blessings of old age, wealth, health, virtuous love, and peace in the afterlife.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 6 October 2015, lot 198
Price: HKD 75,000 or approx.
EUR 10,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved cinnabar lacquer hexagonal incense box and cover, Ming dynasty
Expert remark: Note the size (8 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 2 October 2017, lot 215
Price: HKD 125,000 or approx.
EUR 16,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A cinnabar lacquer ‘scholar on horseback’ circular box and cover, Ming dynasty, 16th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related S-shaped key-fret borders, two-tiered diapered ground, and manner of carving. Note the size (7.6 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 29 May 2007, lot 1559
Price: HKD 96,000 or approx.
EUR 17,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare finely carved cinnabar lacquer square incense box and cover, Ming Dynasty, 16th century
Expert remark: Compare the related key-fret borders, two-tiered diapered ground, and manner of carving. Note the size (6.6 cm).




元至明代中期小剔犀香盒


中國，十四世紀中期至十六世紀。五邊形蓋盒，盒子上精美的浮雕錦地文人及其侍者，周圍是假山和樹，構圖生動。蓋盒側面雷紋，盒內和底座均上黑漆。


專家注釋：
近年對雕漆年代的研究認爲這種口沿雙雷紋飾、蓋上畫有大小人物或山石山水的盒子，其年代可追溯到元代（1279-1368）。最有力的論據是最近在上海附近的一組墓葬中發現了一個類似的、稍大一些的盒子，屬於任氏家族，其中一個可追溯到 1351 年及 1338 年。


來源：
日本私人老收藏；英國古玩交易，購於上述收藏。

品相：
狀況良好，有輕微磨損與使用痕跡，良好的包漿。

重量：32.8 克
尺寸：寬 6.2 釐米

一個日本木盒，裏面有一張寫著日語字樣的紙條“推朱香盒”。 (2)


五邊形盒
極為罕見，充滿吉祥寓意。五在中國被認為是一個吉祥的數字，代表著壽比南山、恭喜發財、健康安寧、品德高尚、善始善終的五福。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港佳士得， 2015年10月6日，lot 198
價格：HKD 75,000（相當於今日
EUR 10,500
）
描述：明十六世紀剔紅人物圖六方香盒
專家評論：請注意尺寸(8 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2017年10月2日，lot 215
價格：HKD 125,000（相當於今日
EUR 16,500
）
描述：明十六世紀剔紅高士策馬圖圓蓋盒
專家評論：比較非常相近S形雷紋邊框、兩層紋底、雕刻方式。請注意尺寸(7.6 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2007年5月29日，lot 1559
價格：HKD 96,000（相當於今日
EUR 17,500
）
描述：十六世紀明代剔紅方蓋盒
專家評論：比較相近的雷紋、兩層紋底、雕刻方式。請注意尺寸(6.6 厘米)。