A SMALL ZITAN CIRCULAR BOX AND COVER 17TH CENTURY

of circular form, the shallow box carved on the exterior with a continuous scene depicting delicate leafy branches issuing small floral blooms above a frieze of geometric patterns alternating with pendent foliate motifs, the countersunk base centred with a Wang He zhenwan seal mark, the domed cover similarly carved in low relief with meandering thin leafy branches bearing floral buds and blossoms

The seal on the base is a collector’s seal added for the well-known art connoisseur and collector Wang He, who lived in the Shanghai area during the Republican period. This same seal appears on another zitan box and cover, inlaid with silver and attributed to the Jiajing master Zhou Zhu, offered in these rooms, 8th April 2013, lot 166, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection.