A RARE SIMULATION LACQUER-AND-BASKETRY BOX AND COVER MOULDED SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

of compressed globular form on a splayed foot, the flat top of the cover finely moulded with a large central medallion enclosing a five-clawed dragon with one claw clutching a 'flaming pearl' amidst scrolling clouds, its head flanked by a pair of horns above bushy eyebrows, the gently curved and sloping sides decorated with four panels simulating basketry surrounded by lotus scrolls with interspersed florets, the sides of the box similarly decorated above a band of pendant petals encircling the foot, covered overall with a cinnabar-lacquer red glaze with the details picked out in gilt, the interior glazed in turquoise, the base moulded with a gilded six-character seal mark

Collection of H.M. Knight (died 1970), The Hague.
S. Marchant & Son, London (label).

Oosterse Schatten. 4,000 Jaar Aziatische Kunst, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 1954, cat. no. 425.

Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 4, no. 1835.

The condition is extremely good with only a tiny flake to the enamelling to the nose of the dragon on the cover and a shallow flake to the interior rim of the box. The gilding and enamelling are in very good condition with very little wear. The cover has a very minute frit (less than 1 mm, has been slightly concealed with wax) to the raised outline of a petal.
"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."

Lacquer-and-basketry boxes were very popular in the late Ming period (1368-1644), but were not made for court use and generally do not depict the five-clawed dragon. The present imperial porcelain version of a non-imperial lacquer box is highly unusual.

Compare a porcelain copy of a carved lacquer box without basketwork, included in The 7th Annual Exhibition of Porcelain of Ch'ing Dynasty. K'ang-hsi, Yung-cheng and Ch'ien-lung Periods (from 1662 to 1795 A.D.), Min Ch'iu Society, Hong Kong, 1968, cat.no. 144.