A CARVED THREE-COLOUR LACQUER BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of cong shape, the red lacquer cover with a cental medallion enclosing a large basket filled with the bajixiang from which flame-like bands of cinnabar, black and yellow zig-zag diaper radiate upwards to a large chun character, all reserved on a ruyi-cloud ground and encircled by a classic scroll band, each of  the rounded sides with cusped square panels enclosing fruiting sprays issuing from rockwork and reserved on a floret-diaper ground, divided by four black lacquer projecting corners each with rectangular panels enclosing peony issuing from rockwork, the shallow base supported on four short bracket feet, the base and interior lacquered black

A polychrome lacquer box of similar form, the lid and the sides carved with figures in landscape, from the Qing Court collection and now in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Carved Lacquer in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1985, pl. 280. See also a related box with the 'Precious Spring Longevity' (chunshou bao) motif on the cover but with shou characters on the sides, sold in our New York rooms, 23rd September 1995, lot 297; and another pair of boxes sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 5/6th November 1997, lot 912.

Boxes of this type, designed to give the illusion that two boxes have been combined together, catered to the Qianlong emperor's taste for the unusual and artistically challenging. The pattern on the cover is rich in symbolism. It was a favourite motif of the Jiajing emperor of the Ming dynasty who was a devote Daoist and in his quest for immortality had many lacquer boxes made bearing the character 'spring' (chun). 'Spring' symblizes 'eternity and renewal' in Chinese tradition and the basket filled with treasure represented wealth. The message conveyed here was a wish for longevity and wealth especially during New Year celebrations.