Boite en laque rouge sculptée Chine, dynastie Ming, XVE siècle

à quatre lobes, comportant à l'origine deux compartiments, le couvercle à décor de deux sages assis dans un pavillon lacustre, le pourtour avec des rinceaux de pivoines et chrysantèmes

The box possibly had three tiers with the third bottom tier now missing. A few expected age cracks visible on the illustration (to the left across the tree above the house servant, vertical in the centre along the right wall of the pavilion extending above into the recessed ground, beneath the pavilion, to the rim below the three ducks lower right, to the rim by the rocky peninsula on the right with small old repair), a 5 mm dent repaired to the cover's lower rim (old restoration) at one end, another 5 mm at 5 o'clock, the black lacquer with stabilized cracks inside the cover and beneath the base.
"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."

It is rare to find early Ming dynasty carved lacquer boxes of this pleasing quatrefoil form. The style of carving is characteristic of the period and compares favourably to that found on a two-tiered box decorated with two scholar-officials seated in a garden setting. The box is attributed to the Xuande period and is illustrated in Carved Lacquer in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1985, pl. 92. See another box carved with a fishing scene published ibid., pl. 94.

The deeply carved floral scroll on the side of the box is related to that seen on a box in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, published in East Asian Lacquer. The Florence and Herbert Irving Collection, New York, 1991, pl. 27; and her carved cinnabar lacquer box sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2006, lot 1143.