清乾隆 剔彩雙龍寶盒 《大清乾隆年製》《雙龍寶盒》款

square section with canted corners, the cover deeply and finely carved with a two confronted five-clawed dragons in pursuit of a 'Flaming Pearl' enclosing a shou character, amidst flames and ruyi-form cloud scrolls and above five peaks rising from turbulent waves, framed by keyfret and lappet borders, the sides carved with rectangular cartouches enclosing the 'Eight Daoist Emblems' amidst clouds, and interspersed with the 'Eight Buddhist Emblems' on a green and ochre diaper ground, the base incised and gilt with a six-character Qianlong mark, the inside of the cover with a four-character gilt-filled inscribed Shuanglong baohe (double dragon treasure box) mark (2)

The interiors, interior lip, foot ring, and base re-lacquered and with a few minor splits and creases. The exterior with scattered areas of touch-ups, repairs, and small restored elements to the carving. The cover interior with a repaired crack. The box interior corners have further touch-ups.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Compare a closely related box and cover, also inscribed with both Qianlong and Shuanglong baohe marks, sold Christie's New York, 19th March 2009, lot 590. A further box of the same shape and design, incised and gilt with a Qianlong mark only, in the National Palace Museum was included in the exhibition Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colors. Treasured Lacquerware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, cat. no. 136; and an unmarked box of the same form and design, illustrated in B. J. St. M. Morgan, ‘Carved Lacquer in the Krolik Collection’, Oriental Art, vol. XIII, no. 4, Winter 1967, p. 251, fig. 7, sold twice in our London rooms, first on 24th February 1970, lot 85, and again, 29th October 1982, lot 247. 

The four-character Shuanglong baohe mark is also found on a circular tiered box and cover included in the Hong Kong Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition, 2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer, Art Gallery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993, cat. no. 77.