Lot 51
  • 51

A Carved Metal-Bodied Cinnabar Lacquer Bowl and Cover Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period

Estimate
120,000 - 180,000 HKD
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Description

unusually constructed with a heavy metal body, the deep rounded sides rising from a straight foot to an everted rim, deftly carved overall through the rich cinnabar lacquer, the exterior with four lotus and four attendant buds wreathed in scrolling foliage against a finely incised ground of leiwen, between a border of ruyi collaring the rim and petal lappets encircling the base, the foot picked out with a ‘classic’ scroll, the domed cover centred with a galleried knob enclosing a shou symbol, similar carved with a foliate scroll of four further lotus and buds between petal lappets above and a band of ruyi at the rim, the interior lacquered in black

Condition

The bowl is slightly warped and therefore the cover does not fit perfectly. There is retouching to the red lacquer around rims of the bowl and footring as well as to the rim of the circular knob of the cover. The base has been later applied with red lacquer. There are a few scattered expected minute chips to the tips of some of the leaves and to the extremities of some lotus petals on both the bowl and cover. But overall the condition is quite good.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Carved lacquer boxes with a body core material of metal appear to have been made over a considerable period. For a box with a metal body attributed to the early Ming dynasty, see a cylindrical example carved with figures in a landscape, illustrated by Sammy Lee, Chinese Lacquer as Exhibited at the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, 1964, cat. no. 3. A pair of Qianlong period metal-bodied cinnabar-lacquer boxes and covers, decorated with a scholar and acolytes within a landscape, was sold in these rooms, 8th April 2010, lot 1932.

For a Qianlong reign-marked bowl and cover of similar form in the Victoria and Albert Museum, carved in similar high relief, but with the birthday greeting four-character expression wanshou wujiang, see Sir Harry Garner, Chinese Lacquer, London, 1979, pl. 92. See also a Qianlong reign-marked cinnabar lacquer embellished spinach-green jade bowl, decorated with similar high relief carved lotus flowers, sold in our Paris rooms, 18th December 2008, lot 126. Clearly, the Qianlong period was a period of particularly diverse experimentation when lacquer was applied to diverse materials.