A RARE INSCRIBED MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID TIERED LACQUER BOX AND COVER MING DYNASTY, 16TH/17TH CENTURY

of hexagonal form with two tiers and one false tier on the cover, the cover finely inlaid with a scene of a scholar with their attendants in a courtyard of a pavilion arriving on horseback, the sides inlaid with six horizontal bands containing lobed cartouches on each facet enclosing scenes with scholars and children in fenced gardens, each reserved on a floral diaper ground

This rare box is in very good overall condition with the exception of two sections of loss to the inlay on the cover (a 2x1.5cm., section to the back of the boy on the left, and a 2cm., wide section of the roof tiles), a small section on the rounded rim (4 x 5mm. section to the legs of one boy), and a small section to the diaper ground on the box (4 x 5mm.), several minor areas of loss to the inlay, minor age cracks and dents to the edges and age cracks to the interior of the cover, central tier and box at each corner.
"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 inscription on the present box reads and can be translated as follows:
Hetian jiang Yi Junhua
Workman called Yi Junhua from Hetian

Intricately inlaid with delicate pieces of mother-of-pearl shell, the present piece is impressive for the fine workmanship of the figural scenes and geometric patterns. An earlier box of lobed octagon form, with two tiers and two false tiers, decorated with a scene of scholars and attendants on the cover and similarly adorned with lobed cartouches of figural scenes against a diaper ground, was sold in our New York rooms, 21^st September 2005, lot 180; and a similarly decorated two-tiered square box with indented corners was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong exhibition 2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993, cat. no. 92.