A RARE EMBELLISHED CARVED LACQUER BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of flattened circular form and supported on a short foot, the cover embellished with a large jade elephant incised with naturalistic detail and applied with two curled bone tusks, its back caparisonned with with a hardstone saddle supporting an archaic vase filled with flowers, attended by four robed foreign tribute bearers all amid a landscape scene, the mountains carved through the lacquer, the pine and paulownia trees growing from rockwork and embellished in hardstone, all set against varying lacquer ground, the sides of the cover and box carved with a continuous dense floral scroll, the interiors lacquered gold and the base black

The overall condition is very good with only a minor 1 cm chip to the inner rim of the base. There is minor loss of paint to the blanket on the elephant. One of the tree branches has a crack and the neck of the vase on top of the elephant has separated and has been restuck.
"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."

Embellished cinnabar lacquer boxes are very rare.  Embellished cinnabar boxes usually only have jade pieces; seldom are boxes found with jade and inlaid bone.  See a cinnabar chime-shaped lacquer box inlaid with a piece of jade, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, vol. 46, Hong Kong, 2006, no. 16.  A related embellished roof-tile shaped maroon-ground lacquer box and cover with an elephant supporting a vase on its back in the Palace Museum, Beijing is also illustrated in ibid. no. 187.  Another box also in the Palace Museum, Beijing embellished with figures washing an elephant on a Japanese-style maki-e gold flecked ground, is illustrated in ibid. no. 179. 

The subject of the elephant carrying a vase on its back, forms the homophone Taiping youxiang ('Peaceful times').  Foreigners bringing elephants and tributes to the court is a popular subject depicted in all mediums, for it portrays the Qing Court as powerful enough to command foreigners to pay tribute.  Compare a panel on a screen in our present sale, lot 2823, with foreigners guiding an elephant with a vase on its back.