A SMALL HEXAGONAL LAC-BURGAUTE BOX AND COVER MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

of hexagonal form, the raised top inlaid with mother-of-pearl on black lacquer ground with a scene of a scholar seated at a table with a wine cup, a bowl of fruit, and a zhadou, drinking wine served by an attendant, all in a rocky garden landscape with a pine tree and various flowers, the concave canted sides decorated with various floret-diaper grounds, the interior of the box centred on a sprig of peonies, the base similarly decorated on the sloping sides with floret diapers, the underside centred with a square seal reading Mushiren, stand

Collection of Edward T. Chow.
Grace Wu Bruce, Hong Kong.
Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, January 1987.

The overall condition is very good. The foot of the box has some light fritting to the lacquer and a couple very small pieces of the inlay just above the foot has fallen out. The actual size is about 15% smaller than the catalogue illustration.
"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 present covered box made in the burgauté technique or luo dian in Chinese, whereby the inlaid design employs small pieces of iridescent blue-green shells is a fine example of the type, possibly from the workshop of the 17^th century master artist Jiang Qianli. While Jiang was the most famous lac-burgaute maker, he inspired many followers who produced excellent work in late Ming and early Qing dynasties. This particular box is probably made and signed by one of them. The series of formalized panels of floral diaper are expertly executed with symmetry and precision, typical of Jiang's technique and range of pattern. Although the signature does not display the characteristics of Jiang's graceful calligraphic seal-script, signed wares by makers other than the great master are relatively rare.

The making of vessels in the luo dian technique is most labour intensive. It involves the cutting and inlay of tens of thousands of small shell pieces which are then glued to the surface. The vessel is covered with a thick coat of lacquer which is ground and polished to reveal the decoration. As the shell-fragments come in different hues, the lacquer artisan has to build up his design by carefully selecting the small fragments to produce a pattern that matches and is uniformly brilliant.

For an example of a related hexagonal lac burgauté box, see one from the Fuller collection sold at Christie's London, 28/29^th June 1965 lot 222, bearing a Qialong seal mark. Compare also boxes inspired by floral shapes, such as the vessel decorated with several kinds of miniature diaper patterns in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, illustrated in George Kuwayama, Far Eastern Lacquer, Los Angeles, 1982, pl. 30; and another in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in Zhongguo meishu quanji. Gongyi meishu bian, vol. 8, Beijing, 1989, pl. 183. Further examples of vessels made in the same technique were included in the exhibition 2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer, The Art Gallery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1993, cat. no. 97, a small circular box, and cat. 98, a vase.