A LARGE ‘QIANGJIN’ AND ‘TIANQI’ LACQUER ‘DRAGON’ BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD

of chrysanthemum form, divided into sixteen lobes, the domed cover with a raised panel finely incised and gilt in the qiangjin technique and further picked out in the tianqi polychrome enamels, depicting a five-clawed dragon coiling around a flaming pearl, surrounded by four dragons in various poses writhing amongst ruyi clouds and enclosed within a keyfret border, the sides similarly decorated on each lobe with a dragon writhing amongst clouds in pursuit of a flaming pearl, the box adorned with jagged mountains standing on turbulent waves beneath vaporous clouds, the rims encircled by bats in flight amongst clouds and the foot bordered by a keyfret band, the interior and base lacquered black

This box has a number of more minor areas of repainting and restoration to the rim of the box and the cover and and there are a number of small chips to the lacquer to the rim of the box. There is also an area of flaking to the black lacquer to the centre of the interior base and some scratching to the lacquer to the interior of the cover and box. The exterior surfaces have also been slightly cleaned.
"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 related box in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Zhongguo qiqi quanji [The complete collection of lacquer], vol. 6, Fuzhou, 1993, pl. 138.