- 3685
A LARGE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'DRAGON' BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
Estimate
1,500,000 - 3,500,000 HKD
bidding is closed
Description
- lacquer
of circular form supported on a short straight foot, the flat cover carved with a ferocious en face five-clawed dragon writhing sinuously around a 'flaming pearl', its scaly body meticulously rendered amidst dense cloud scrolls, against a ground of finely picked out tempestuous waves, surrounded by a key-fret border and two pairs of dragons soaring through cloud scrolls above crashing waves in pursuit of 'flaming pearls', all above a key-fret band encircling the rim, the exterior of the box similarly carved with two further pairs of dragons, all between two key-fret bands bordering the rim and foot, the interior and base lacquered black
Catalogue Note
Notable for its impressive size, the dynamic and detailed carving of the present piece reveals the opulent taste of the Qianlong Emperor. Rendered with ferocious expressions, gaping jaws that reveal sharp fangs, bulbous eyes and flaring nostrils, the intricately modelled scaly bodies of the dragons thrash through the clouds to create a brilliant scene of intense strength and energy. Moreover, the combed lines of the turbulent waves under the intricate network of clouds provide a striking setting for the dragons.
Boxes of this grand proportions and carved with dragons are rare, although a closely related example was offered in our London rooms, 17th December 1996, lot 207. See also a box of this impressive size, carved with a side-facing dragon amongst waves, from the collection of Dorothy and James E. Hahn, in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, illustrated in The T.T. Tsui Galleries of Chinese Art, Toronto, 1996, pl. 126; another decorated with a dragon carrying an auspicious character, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Lacquer Wares of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 2006, pl. 13; and a third box, of slightly larger size, lacking the key-fret border, sold in our New York rooms, 21st September 2006, lot 66.
Boxes of this grand proportions and carved with dragons are rare, although a closely related example was offered in our London rooms, 17th December 1996, lot 207. See also a box of this impressive size, carved with a side-facing dragon amongst waves, from the collection of Dorothy and James E. Hahn, in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, illustrated in The T.T. Tsui Galleries of Chinese Art, Toronto, 1996, pl. 126; another decorated with a dragon carrying an auspicious character, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Lacquer Wares of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 2006, pl. 13; and a third box, of slightly larger size, lacking the key-fret border, sold in our New York rooms, 21st September 2006, lot 66.