A CARVED LACQUERED QIANGJIN LACQUER TRAY MING DYNASTY, WANLI PERIOD

of rectangular form with the narrow sides curving and forming scrolled ends, the top finely incised with a red full-frontal five-clawed dragon flanked by two dragons in three-quarter view, one black and one in gold, all soaring above dark green crashing waves amid clouds and reserved on a wan diaper ground, enclosed within a key fret border, incised on each curved side with a red lotus with black feathery leaves, above a dragon in profile chasing a flaming pearl, and another lotus flower panel on the interior on the incurve of the scroll, the incised lines further picked-out with gold pigment, the underside lacquered in black

The overall condition is very good with only expected age cracks to the lacquered surface and minor chips along the edges.
"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."

The qiangjin technique involved the inlaying of thin gold leaves into a finely incised design on a lacquer base.  It is unclear when this technique was first used, but by the end of the 3rd century AD, the technique was seen on the cover of a box discovered in 1984 from the tomb of Zhu Ran, dating to 249 AD. After the Hongwu and Yongle period, nearly all qiangjin lacquerworks are combined with the tianqi (filled-in) technique, which can be seen in the present lot. 

The animated dragons, a popular motif on qiangjin and tianqi lacquerwares from the Jiajing and Wanli period, can be seen on the covers of several lacquer boxes and covers in the Palace Museum, Beijing collection, illustrated in The Compete Colletion of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Lacquer Wares from of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, vol. 45, nos. 179, 181, 183 and 186.  Trays of this scrolling form can be found in other materials including huanghuali.