A RARE EMBELLISHED CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'TRIBUTE BEARERS' BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of circular form and supported on a short foot, the cover skilfully embellished with a large jade elephant incised with naturalistic detail and applied with two curled bone tusks, its back decorated with a tasselled caparison supporting a saddle filled with gnarled stems, attended by four foreign tribute bearers amidst a landscape scene, detailed with pine and wutong trees growing and embellished in hardstone, as well as mountains carved through the lacquer in the background, all set against a diapered lacquer ground of varying designs, the sides of the cover and box carved with a continuous floral scroll wreathed by dense foliage, the interiors lacquered gold and the base black

Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 11th April 2008, lot 2865.

All the embellishments on this magnificent and extremely rare lacquer box have been preserved well. There are several small issues that in no way detract from the overall beauty of the box and cover, which are in remarkably good condition, including a 1cm chip to the inner flange of the box, a small area of the vase on top of the elephant separated and skilfully restuck, and rubbing to the clouds. There is minor loss of paint to several areas, including the blanket on the elephant. Other minor cracks and surface wear. The inner flanges of the box and cover may have been retouched at some point.
"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."

This superbly crafted box reveals the wealth and abundance of the Qing empire under the Qianlong Emperor through the various media employed and scene represented. From the finest quality jade, ivory and hardstones, it not only shows every material at the Emperor's disposal but also the availability of the most skilled of artisans to work with them. The production of complex embellished pieces such as the present would have required the collaboration of a number of departments within the Imperial Workshops. Every detail within this composition was carefully chosen, manufactured and finished to create an aesthetically pleasing piece. Such vessels were a Qianlong innovation and speak of the prosperity of his reign.

See a peach-form box embellished with hardstones to depict a gnarled branch and five peaches, all similarly reserved on an intricately carved diaper ground, sold at Christie’s London, 11th May 2010, lot 51; and a chime-shaped cinnabar lacquer box inlaid with a piece of jade, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, vol. 46, Hong Kong, 2006, no. 16.  A related embellished roof-tile shaped maroon-ground lacquer box and cover with an elephant supporting a vase on its back in the Palace Museum, Beijing is also illustrated ibid. no. 187. Another box also in the Palace Museum, Beijing embellished with figures washing an elephant on a Japanese-style maki-e gold flecked ground, is illustrated ibid. no. 179. 

The subject of the elephant carrying a vase on its back forms the homophone taiping youxiang ('Peaceful times'). Foreigners bringing elephants and tributes to the court is a popular subject depicted in all mediums, for it portrays the Qing Court as powerful enough to command foreigners to pay tribute.