A FINE GOLD 'LOTUS' BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of flattened oblong shape resting on a slightly sunken base, the box and cover superbly beaten in openwork with large lotus blooms wreathed by classic feathery scrolls and curling tendrils, the lotus and leaves naturalistically rendered with delicately engraved lines, finely and freely incised at the rims with a foliate scroll

Chinese Gold, Silver and Porcelain: The Kempe Collection, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1971, cat.no.26, an exhibition touring the United States and equally shown at
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington;
M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, San Francisco, California;
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas;
Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Dallas, Texas;
The Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, Columbus, Ohio;
Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa;
The Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado;
Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City, Utah;
Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, Illinois.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 52.

The overall condition is very good.
"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."

The exquisitely crafted gold covered box is a fine example of vessels made during the Qianlong period when objects decorated with an openwork design were much admired and favoured by the emperor. See a gold octagonal box carved with floral scroll design in openwork and inlaid with precious stones, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Treasures of Imperial Court, Hong Kong, 2004, pl. 193. See also a Qianlong period ruyi sceptre decorated with openwork motif, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in Zhongguo jinyin boli falangqi quanji, vol. 3, Shijiazhuang, 2004, pl. 304.