A CINNABAR LACQUER BOX AND COVER ATTRIBUTED TO ZHOU ZHU MING DYNASTY, 16TH / 17TH CENTURY

of rectangular form, the cover carved with a scene of five Mongolian hunters amidst a stylized mountainous landscape below scrolling clouds, one huntsman standing holding a banner with one hand and a hawk perched on his right arm with a dog at his side while watching another huntsman on horseback, another galloping on horseback while aiming at a goose in the corner, the fourth galloping to retrieve a felled goose shot by the fifth huntsman, the sides further carved with blossoming prunus branches with luscious leaves, all upon a floret diaper ground, the interior fitted with a shallow tray

There are expected minor chips along the edges that have been repaired, and corners that have been reinforced. There does not appear to be much loss or restoration to the actual carved areas. The interior has not been relacquered. The underside has some expected scratches and chips to the lacquer.
"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 box appears to be a lacquer version of inlaid wooden boxes decorated with a hunting scene and attributed to the 16^th century artist Zhou Zhu. For an example see the box in this collection, lot 2192. A related lacquer box carved with similar rock formations and almost identical floral band decoration on the sides, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is published in Gugong Bowuyuan cang gongyipin xuan, Beijing, 1974, pl. 42. Also compare a slightly larger rectangular cinnabar lacquer box of this form in the National Museum of Chinese History, Beijing, carved with birds and flowers and attributed to the Ming Dynasty, illustrated in A Journey into China's Antiquity, Beijing, 1997, p. 133, pl. 122; and another covered box with a Jiajing reign mark and of the period, published in Im Zeichen des Drachen, Stuttgard, 2006, p. 125, pl. 48, in the collection of the Linden Museum, Stuttgard. A box of this type, carved with figures in a landscape on the cover and similar flower-scroll design band on the side, was sold in our New York rooms, 2^nd June 1976, lot 174.

A similar hunting scene can be found on a two-coloured lacquer tray in the Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya, illustrated in Karamono. Imported Lacquerwork – Chinese, Korean and Ryukyan, Selections from the Tokugawa Art Museum, no. 2, Nagoya, 1997, pl. 95, attributed to the Yuan or Ming period.