A fine 'Qiangjin' Polychrome Lacquer quatrefoil dish Qianlong mark and period

the dish of quatrefoil shape and shallow form, decorated in black  with the character chun ('Spring') and a circular medallion enclosing Shoulao (the God of Longevity), above a large ruyi-head rimmed bronze vessel bearing offerings of good fortune, flanked by two ascending coiling five-clawed dragons with open mouths, surrounded by ruyi-head clouds, the cavetto and exterior sides each with eight bats among ruyi-head clouds, the motifs incised and gilt, applied with black, green and red lacquer, all against an orange-red ground, the underside lacquered black, with four short bracket feet, the incised six-character mark gilt

Acquired in London by the previous owner in the early 1960s (by repute).
With the present owner since 1991.

In good overall condition with faint traces of gilding on the exterior lobes. The rim with very tiny and negligible nibbles. Possible old cleaning along the interior corners. Expected tiny surface abrasions to the feet and 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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Compare an identical dish of the same size in the Qing Court collection, attributed to the mid-Qing dynasty, illustrated in Lacquer Ware of the Qing Dynasty: The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2006, pl. 83, p. 117. See also a polychrome lacquer lotus-shaped box bearing the same theme, attributed to the Qianlong period and also in the Qing Court collection, ibid. pl. 91, pp. 128-129.

The present decorative motif is a popular Daoist subject often found on carved cinnabar lacquerware and can be traced to lacquer boxes bearing the chun character, made during the Jiajing period (1522-1566) of the Ming dynasty. It was revived by the Qianlong emperor during the Qing dynasty, and numerous examples can be found in museum collections. One from the Avery Brundage Collection in the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, is illustrated in Hai-Wai Yi-Chen, Chinese Art in Overseas Collections: Lacquerware, Taipei, 1987, pl. 157, p. 160. See also a carved polychrome lacquer box and cover formerly in the Victoria and Albert Museum, illustrated in Edward F. Strange, Catalogue of Chinese Lacquer, London, 1925, pl. XXVI. Another polychrome example is in the Qing Court Collection, ibid., pl. 61, p. 88.