A RARE CARVED LOTUS PAD WOODEN TRAY, SIGNED ZHOU ZIYAN QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD, DATED TO 1758

carved from a thin plane of wood in the form of a broad naturalistic lotus leaf, the interior simply incised with a lotus vein ground, organic tears and holes, curling at the edges, the underside realistically rendered with the stem stippled and coiled, inscribed with a four-character title lu xiang qing cui ('Fragant Dew') dated Qianlong wu yin chang-xia, corresponding to the summer of 1758, signed Zhou Ziyan, the smooth varnished surface with a warm golden brown tone 

An old private Japanese collection.

Minor crack to a thin section near one of the holes, overall good condition.
"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."

Zhou Ziyan (b. 1683-1773), also known as Zhao Hao, Jin Chan and Xue Jiao, was a prominent bamboo and wood carver of the Qing dynasty and native of Jiading, Jiangsu province. He was skilled in carving calligraphy and painting subjects, but especially renowned for his carvings of landscapes in the style of the Southern School. Ip Yee and Laurence C.S. Tam in Chinese Bamboo Carving, part II, Hong Kong, 1982, p. 58, note that 'he wielded his cutting tools so firmly and precisely that the strokes were compared to iron wires'. For examples of Zhao's works see a bamboo wrist-rest similarly carved with a stems of bamboo illustrated ibid., part I, pl. 98; and a bamboo brushpot carved with flowers in low relief, ibid., pl. 67