Rare boîte couverte en laque rouge sculptée Marque et époque Yongle

de forme circulaire, le couvercle finement sculpté à travers les épaisses couches de laque rouge de cinabre de larges pivoines en fleur dans leur feuillage, révélant le fond en laque ocre, le pourtour de la boîte et du couvercle sculptés d'une frise de différentes fleurs épanouies, l'intérieur et la base laqués noir, marque à six caractères inscrite verticalement à la base (2)

Both box and cover are in overall good condition. There are two ca. 1cm and 0.5cm large chips to the inside rim of the box. There is a ca. 2.5cm wide crescent-shaped bruise to the rim of the box. There are several hairline cracks extending from the rim into the inside of the box. There are several cracks extending from the rim of the cover into the sides, one of them retouched on the rim. There is a ca. 5cm wide area to the sides of the cover where the crack extends from the rim of the cover upwards and along the top of the cover before extending back down to the rim. The inside rim may have been repainted. The flowers on the sides of the cover and the flowers on the sides of the box match as pairs. Cover and box are well-matched. The colour of the cinnabar lacquer is a slightly darker, saturated tone than the catalogue illustration suggests. The black lacquer on the inside of the cover, box and on the base show a beautiful crackling consistent with the age.
"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."

Not many carved cinnabar lacquer boxes bearing a Yongle mark of this comparatively small size are known. Compare two boxes of the same size one decorated with chrysanthemum flowers, the second with camellia blossoms, illustrated in Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colors. Treasured Lacquerware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, cat. nos. 010 and 018.