A SUPERBLY CARVED AND INLAID HUANGHUALI LOBED TRAY ATTRIBUTED TO ZHOU ZHU, MING DYNASTY, JIAJING PERIOD

of rectangular form with cusped corners, the interior skilfully inlaid in malachite, soapstone and mother-of-pearl with a leafy branch bearing clusters of lychee, each fruit textured with a diaper pattern and the green leaves naturalistically detailed with veins, the outer rim bordered with a wire-inlaid T-scroll band

One of the leaves (top of right in catalogue photo) has been carefully replaced, and has a lighter green colour. Otherwise the tray is in good condition with just minor age cracks.
"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 exquisitely crafted tray belongs to a group of inlaid objects likely to have been created at the workshop of Zhou Zhu, a master carver and artist active in the Jiajing period. By skilfully utilising kaleidoscopic materials to depict extraordinarily vivid scenes adorning precious woods, Zhou pioneered a range of beautifully inlaid works of art distinctive for their three-dimensional quality with eye-catching effects. His work provided inspiration for numerous subsequent interpretations.    A circular box and cover with closely related decoration, attributed to the School of Zhou Zhu, was sold in our Olympia rooms, 17th July 2003, lot 433, and again in these rooms, 2nd June 2016, lot 42, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection. Compare also several boxes inlaid with multi-coloured materials, attributed to the late-Ming period, from the Qing Court collection, preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Hong Kong, 2002, cat. nos 219-25.

The design on the present tray, fashioned with a leafy branch bearing clusters of lychee, is rich in auspicious symbolism. Lychee, with its Chinese name, lizhi, is homophonous with the phrase ‘establish a son’ (lizi) and represents abundance of offspring.