A SMALL CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'SCHOLAR' CIRCULAR BOX AND COVER, XUANDE MARK AND PERIOD

A SMALL CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'SCHOLAR' CIRCULAR BOX AND COVER

XUANDE MARK AND PERIOD

明宣德 剔紅松下觀鶴圖小蓋盒 《大明宣德年製》款



the cover carved in high relief with a scholar seated on a rock in a balustraded garden, the right hand holding a brush and poised over the inkstone, the left hand holding an unfurled scroll, the gaze directed toward a nearby attendant and a crane flying overhead, a second attendant approaching from the pavilion carrying a stack of books with rocks, shrubs and a tall pine tree all around, the ground and sky textured with very fine diaper patterns, the sides of the box and cover carved in high relief with foliate peony bands against an ocher ground, the interiors and base lacquered black, one side of the base with an incised and gilt six-character mark in a vertical line (2) 

Diameter 3¼ in., 8.2 cm