A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE OCTAGONAL CINNABAR LACQUER 'GURI' DISH SONG DYNASTY

of eight-sided form with shallow rounded sides, deeply carved through thick layers of red lacquer and two fine black layers with robust guri pommels, the centre formed by four heads enclosing a four-pointed star, the cavetto carved with eight similar heads, one below each side of the facetted rim, the exterior similarly decorated with eight 'C'-shaped pommels set between the rim and the foot, the underside lacquered in black

The dish is overall in remarkable condition. The base has not been relacquered and retains an attractive crackle. There is just some light natural age cracks, minor retouching to a few cracks and to one corner.
"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."

Early guri lacquer trays of this octagonal form are unusual; the shape is better known from a small number of plain examples of the Song dynasty such as the tray included in the exhibition So Gen no bi, Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, Tokyo, 2004, cat. no. 21. No other guri lacquer tray of this form appears to be recorded. The tray is beautifully carved and displays much of the characteristics associated with early wares made in this attractive decorative technique. The technique, known by its Japanese name guri (or tixi in Chinese), is referred to in the Butsu-nichi-an kōmotsu mokuroku, a catalogue of the significant objects of the Zen temple Enkaku-ji in Kamakura. Compiled in 1363, this important document mentions a group of Chinese carved lacquer dishes, bowls, incense burners and boxes preserved at the temple brought by the Chinese monk Xu Ziyuan in 1282. The guri design on the present dish is attractively laid out, with a gentle curvature giving a touch of softness to the high relief and deep cut. 

For later, Ming period, guri lacquer examples see a smaller eight-lobed dish sold in our London rooms, 15^th December 1987, lot 8; and another slightly larger octagonal dish carved with alternating black and red layers of lacquer sold at Christie's New York, 26^th March 2003, lot 6. An eight-lobed dish in the Nanjing Museum is illustrated in Zhongguo qiqi quanji, vol. 5, 1995, Fuzhou, pl. 38, together with a round dish in cinnabar lacquer, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, pl. 37, both attributed to the early Ming period.