AN EXTREMELY RARE BLACK LACQUER TIXI AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID CUP STAND YUAN – MING DYNASTY

of circular form with shallow rounded sides supported on a countersunk base, the interior with a circular centre finely inlaid in mother-of-pearl with eight segments encircling a small circular roundel, all surrounded by seven pommel scrolls with attendant ruyi-shaped cloud swirls exquisitely carved through alternating layers of black and red tixi lacquer, the exterior similarly decorated with eight tixi pommel scrolls, the base lacquered brownish-black and inscribed in red with the character yu (jade)

Collection of Jean-Pierre Dubosc, Kamakura and Paris.
Eskenazi Ltd., London.

Chinese Lacquer from the Jean-Pierre Dubosc Collection and Others, Eskenazi Ltd., London, 1992, cat. no. 11.

As visible in the catalogue photo, there are typical age cracks and minute flakes to the mother of pearl inlay. A 6cm section of the rim at the 7 o clock position in the catalogue photo has been skilfully restored with a Japanese-style overpainting.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This cupstand is beautifully carved with a technique known by its Japanese name guri (or tixi in Chinese), referred to in the Butsu-nichi-an kōmotsu mokuroku, a catalogue of the significant objects of the Zen temple Enkaku-ji in Kamakura. Compiled in 1363, this important document mentions a group of Chinese carved lacquer dishes, bowls, incense burners and boxes preserved at the temple brought by the Chinese monk Xu Ziyuan in 1282. The guri design on the present dish is attractively laid out, with a gentle curvature giving a touch of softness to the high relief and deep cut. 

Tixi lacquer cupstands inlaid in mother-of-pearl are rare and no other closely related example appears to have been published. Compare lacquer trays carved with a similar motif: one sold at Christie’s New York, 26th March 2003, lot 10; another sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 15th December 1987, lot 392A; and a third carved with two rows of ruyi-shaped heads, sold in our New York rooms, 30th March 2006, lot 80.