A CINNABAR LACQUER 'DRAGON' BRUSH MING DYNASTY

the cylindrical handle carved with two confronting five-clawed dragons wrapped around the narrow shaft, one dragon rising from the sea as the other one emerges from the clouds, reserved on a diaper ground, all between a key-fret band at one end and a stippled collar at the brush end, the cover carved with a single dragon descending from the clouds towards the sea, the tip of the cover carved with a small crane, fitted with black and white animal hair

The overall condition is very good with only a minor chip to the rim of the cap about 5 mm and a few other smaller nicks to the edges. The brush hairs have been stained red from use.
"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."

A closely related lacquer brush carved with two dragons, one emerging from the water and the other plunging towards it amidst thick clouds, was included in the exhibition Ming Lacquer, Bluett and Sons, London, 1960, cat. no. 20. See also a brush attributed to the Wanli period sold in our London rooms, 13th December 1988, lot 38, also with the dragon design; and a brush from the Sedgwick collection, also sold in our London rooms, 2nd July 1968, lot 79, where in the cataloguing it is noted that 'the fifth claw of the dragons has been removed'. The practice of downgrading the status of imperial pieces with dragon decoration was widespread in the Ming dynasty, and even continued into the Qing period. An example of this is the famous imperial cinnabar lacquer table in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, illustrated in Sir Harry Garner, Chinese Lacquer, London, 1979, pl. A, where all the fifth claws have been removed from the dragons.

For comparison, see brushes carved with figural scenes; for example, one finely carved with the decoration of Daoist figures in landscape, characteristic of the Ming period, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, illustrated in East Asian Lacquer, New York, 1992, pl. 30; and four further brushes, all attributed to the Ming period, included in exhibition Karamono. Imported Lacquerwork – Chinese, Korean and Ryukyuan (Okinawa), Tokugawa Art Museum, Tokyo, 1997, cat. nos. 70-73, carved with a variety of designs.