Paire de cabinets en laque noire incrustée Chine, Dynastie Qing, XIXE siècle

ouvrant à deux portes, finement incrustés d'ivoire, de pierres dures, de laque colorée et de nacre sur fond de laque noire, de scènes du «Paradis occidental des Immortels », le tablier et les côtés décorés de couples d'oiseaux perchés parmi des bouquets floraux, le cadre décoré de la même façon de cartouches ovales renfermant des oiseaux et des fleurs, en réserve sur un fond de nacre, les charnières incisées

Collection de Mme Alice Keppel. 
Messrs, Chancellors & Co, 5-7th June 1948, lots 698-699.

These laquer cabinets are generally in good condition, but both have restoration to the front corners of the top. The right one has a small area of restoration to the side of the top 4 cm x 2.5 cm and has cracks to the inlay to three of the figures and damage to another figure on the left hand door and damage to the inlay of one figure on the right hand door. The left hand cabinet has damage to the inlay of two figures on the left hand door. There is crazing to the laquer on both cabinets and some cracking and more minor loss of lacquer to the sides and tops. There is also restorations to the aprons of both.
"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 skilful decoration of the present cabinets appears to be related to a technique developed in the late sixteenth century known as 'work of Zhou' (Zhou zhi), after a supposed inventor named Zhou Zhu (see Craig Clunas, Chinese Furniture, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1988, p. 94). Also known as baibao kan ('hundred precious things inlay'), this technique of high-relief inlay, which included hardstone, mother of pearl and coloured glass, remained a popular style throughout the Qing dynasty.

For examples closely related in technique, compare a Kangxi-attributed black lacquer cabinet from the Musee Guimet, inlaid in low relief with coral, ivory, mother of pearl and lapis lazuli to depict a landscape, published in Michel Beurdeley, Chinese Furniture, Tokyo, New York and San Francisco, 1979, pl. 161 (detail); and a 17^th-18^th century black lacquer chest decorated with figures, sold in our New York rooms, 20^th October 1988, lot 486. For earlier figural lacquer cabinets that employ this style of inlay, see a Ming example from the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, vol. I, Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 173.