A RARE POLYCHROME 'QIANGJIN' LACQUER DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF WANLI, DATED XINMAO YEAR, (CORRESPONDING TO 1591)

of square form, finely incised in the centre with a sinuous five-clawed dragon striding over turbulent waves, the scales pick-out in gilt and the horns and claws in silver, reserved on a wan diaper ground against brown lacquer, the flaring sides each incised with three peonies on a dense foliate scroll, the exterior similarly decorated with three lotus blooms on a foliate scroll ground, the underside incised and gilded with an eight-character reign mark set against a red lacquer ground

A Japanese Collection.

The overall condition is very good with only natural age cracks and light retouching to the rim and one place on the foot. The gilding remains in very good condition.
"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 present dish is a lively example of the developments in lacquer decorative techniques during the mid-Ming period, which combined two methods, tianqi and qiangjin, for use on imperial lacquer and also employs the very rare technique of the use of silver on lacquer. The tianqi method, or 'in-filled lacquer', consists of filling outlined areas in with different-coloured lacquer, thereby defining the detailed pattern. In contrast, qiangjin involves the inlaying of thin gold leaf into finely-incised designs onto a lacquer foundation. This latter technique was popular during the Yongle period, and can be seen on red-lacquered sutra covers where the surfaces have been ornately decorated in gilt; for example see one included in the exhibition 2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1993, cat. no. 79.

A larger Wanli dish of related form and decorative lacquer technique, with reign mark and of the period, but decorated with a central flaming pearl and shou medallion flanked by a dragon on either side, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 2^nd November 1999, lot 763. For further examples of Wanli dishes, similarly decorated in the qiangjin and tianqi techniques with a dragon in pursuit of a flaming pearl, see one bearing a Wanli yiwei cyclical date (1595), from the Lee Family Collection, included in the exhibition Dragon and Phoenix. Chinese Lacquer Ware, The Museum of East Asian Art, Cologne, cat. no. 81; another, also dated 1595, included in the exhibition 2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer, op.cit., cat. no. 84; and a third, with a cyclical date renchen (1592), sold in these rooms, 27^th April 2003, lot 291.