A RARE THREE-COLOUR NINE DRAGON CINNABAR LACQUER BOX AND COVER QIANLONG MARK AND PERIOD

finely carved in various levels of relief with a frontal five-clawed dragon to the upper surface of the cover, pursuing a flaming pearl amongst trailing clouds, within a keyfret and lappet border, above a wide band of further dragons pursuing flaming pearls above a keyfret band, the box similarly carved with dragons above breaking waves, all on a yellow ground, the base with a six-character mark in gilt, the interior of the cover inscribed jiu long bao he (a treasured box of nine dragons)

This rare box has restoration to one ruyi cloud near to the tail of one of the dragons to the cover which runs to the rim and corresponds to a repaired area to the interior. There is also a restored crack to the interior of the cover, which does correspond to an area of the exterior. There is restoration to three key-fret to the rim and a small area of damage to the area of another key-fret of the cover. There are minor restorations, re-touchings and lacquer loss to the rim of the cover and some chips to lacquer the footrim of the box. There is some more minor restorations to the exterior of the box and cracking to the lacquer to the interior.
"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."

Intricately carved with a complex design of nine dynamic dragons striding in pursuit of flaming pearls, the present piece reveals the opulent taste of the Qianlong Emperor and the zenith of lacquer carving achieved during his reign. Rendered with ferocious expressions, gaping jaws that reveal sharp fangs, bulbous eyes and flaring nostrils, the muscular dragons thrash through the clouds to create a brilliant scene of intense strength and energy. Moreover the deep carving and use of three contrasting colours, accentuates the sense of movement and three-dimensionality.

 

Boxes of this quality and carved with this motif were produced at the Lacquer Workshops of the Zaobanchu (Imperial Palace Workshop), located in the Forbidden City. They are often inscribed with a Qianlong reign mark at the foot and under the cover with a descriptive mark, as seen on this piece. A smaller box of this type in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is illustrated in East Asian Lacquer. The Florence and Herbert Irving Collection, New York, 1991, p. 108, pl. 108, where the authors suggest that ‘the description probably corresponded to the entry for the box in the inventory of articles in the imperial household’.

 

A closely related box was sold in these rooms, 27th October 1989, lot 177; and two were sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, the first, 16th January 1989, lot 347, and the second, 27th October 2003, lot 785. Compare also a smaller Qianlong mark and period box carved with this design, but inscribed under the cover with the characters yunlong baohe (cloud-and-dragon treasure box), in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Gugong bowuyuan cang diaoqi [Carved lacquer in the Palace Museum], Beijing, 1985, pl. 316; and another sold at Christie’s New York, 18th September 2003, lot 79.