A RARE CARVED YELLOW LACQUER 'DRAGON' TRAY MING DYNASTY, WANLI PERIOD, DATED TO THE RENCHEN YEAR (IN ACCORDANCE WITH 1592)

of rectangular form with sloping sides rising with cusped indented corners, all supported on a straight foot of corresponding form, meticulously carved in varied levels of relief through the ochre-yellow lacquer to the cinnabar-red layer below, the interior with two fived-clawed dragons coiling around and contesting a 'flaming pearl' in the centre, amidst ruyi-shaped clouds and above rocks battered by crashing waves, surrounded by a border of peony scrolls, interrupted by four cusped ruyi-shaped motifs carved to the corners, the exterior decorated with a floral band wreathed by large leaves, the footrim bordered with a key-fret band, the base lacquered red and incised in gilt with an eight-character reign mark dated to the renchen year (in accordance with 1592)

In overall good condition with its soft original lustre retained. As visible in the catalogue illustration, there are fine old age cracks and minute nicks to the extremities as can be expected, including the rim and the cusped ruyi motifs on the inner corners, some of which lightly touched up. There are three minute infills to the inner mouthrim. There are small areas of overpaint to the four inner corners of the base. There is also general surface wear and minor flakes, especially to the footring. There is a small shallow area of carved marks to one corner of the outer rim.
"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."

The Wanli Emperor’s Auspicious Yellow Dragon Dish

This remarkable dish belongs to a small group of Wanli lacquer wares that were carved with yellow dragons on a red ground. This group is characterised by extremely fine and deep carving which has been made possible through the thickness of the lacquer wall that has been built up by numerous layers of lacquer. A closely related dish, inscribed with a partially erased Wanli yiwei mark along with an apocryphal Yongle mark, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, was included in the Museum’s Special Exhibition of Lacquer Wares in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1981, cat. no. 31, together with two circular dishes, one carved with a yellow dragon and phoenix against a red ground with a Jiajing reign mark and of the period and the other with a single yellow dragon, inscribed with a Wanli mark and of the period, cat. nos. 32 and 33 respectively.

Compare wares with related designs from this yellow carved lacquer group such as two boxes of closely related form and design, but with a black-ground sea and dated to the yiwei year of Wanli (corresponding to 1595), one from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Shanghai, 2006, pl. 169, and the other sold in our New York rooms, 16th/17th September 2014, lot 548; and a bowl dated to the jichou year of Wanli (corresponding to 1589), in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, op. cit., pl. 165. See also a circular dish depicting one dragon amongst similarly rendered clouds above mountains and crashing waves, incised with a yiwei cyclical date, from the Kaisendo Museum, Yamagata, included in the exhibition Ming and Qing Ceramics and Works of Art, Osaka Municipal Art Museum, Osaka, 1980, cat. no. 2:31, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1st June 2011, lot 3572; and another from the collection of Sir Harry and Lady Garner, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Arts of the Ming Dynasty, London, 1957, cat. no. 264.

Boxes of closely related rectangular form and design are known carved from various lacquer colours; for example see a polychrome example, also bearing the same eight-character inscription as the present piece, da Ming Wanli renchen nian zhi ('made in the renchen year of the Wanli period of the great Ming dynasty', corresponding to 1592), from the collection of Sakamoto Goro, sold in these rooms, 8th October 2013, lot 160; and two boxes in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in Carved Lacquer in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1985, pls. 228 and 229.

The auspicious message of this dish, with the juxtaposition of the five-clawed imperial dragon is surrounded by ruyi shaped clouds, links the ruler to the wish for long life, a wish that is mirrored in the mountains that symbolise longevity and the sea which represents good fortune. The propitious message is carried through even into the colour scheme, where yellow, the imperial colour, is surrounded by red, the colour of good luck. This combination of colours appears to have been inspired by Jiajing porcelain designs, such as a mark and period red-ground jar decorated with two yellow dragons striding amongst clouds and rocks and waves below, from the Meiyintang Collection, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 2, London, 1994, pl. 706, and sold in these rooms, 7th April 2011, lot 66.

The constant dialogue between different workshops is evident when comparing porcelain and lacquer pieces. For example, diaper patterns originally taken from brocade designs and incorporated into the carved lacquer repertoire in the 14th century began appearing on porcelain designs in the 16th century; see a Wanli mark and period wucai rectangular box decorated with a pair of dragons in a panel which is surrounded by a diaper pattern, sold at Christie’s London, 26th October 1964, lot 96.

Located in Yamagata Prefecture, the Kaisendo Museum was established in 1951 and houses an exceptional collection of knives, swords and lacquer. Comprised of over 400 items, of which 124 are related to lacquer and 97 are carved lacquerware, the museum has become known as a ‘museum of carved lacquerware’. It includes several Japanese carved lacquers which are not found in other museums.

The items were collected by Mr Kenzo Hasegawa (1886-1957), owner of the famous silk workshop in Kaminoyama. He began collecting knives and swords before his interest expanded to include lacquer, which he acquired between 1948 and 1950. Important contributors in the formation of this collection include Mr Shoshichi Inoue, the elder brother of Mr Hasegawa’s father, and his son Mr Masahira Inoue, both serious collectors who built Kikusui-Kogeikan in Komatsu which boasts an impressive collection of Chinese and Japanese ceramics. Art specialist Mr Takushin Kushi and art dealer and authority in Chinese antiquities, Mr Fukkosai Hirota, former president of Kochukyo, also played influential roles. Although this collection was formed with the help of these leading Chinese art experts, it was Mr Hasegawa’s keen sense that enabled him to collect lacquerwares during the chaotic post-war years.