A RARE CINNABAR LACQUER TRAY WITH FIGURES, MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY

the square quatrilobed tray with rounded sides deeply carved with two finely detailed scene of figures in a landscape, the scene diagonally divided in two by a mountain range, the foreground depicting a scholar travelling on horseback followed by his entourage of servants crossing over a bridge about to enter through a small gate, the sign above the gate reading Changsha Fu, the background depicting a three-storied pavilion with scholars gathered on the balcony and on the ground floor, with a bridge leading to a large fortified city gate, the sign above the gate reading Jiang Cheng, the landscape densely filled with mountains and pine trees, the land and water represented by different diapers carved through to the yellow ochre ground, the exterior carved with peonies and lychees reserved on a yellow diaper ground, all on a low foot skirted with a key-fret band, the underside lacquered in black densely crackled with age

The overall condition appears to be quite good with only light retouching to the lacquer on the mouth and foot rim. The lacquer on the underside is crackled with some loss revealing the primary layer. The lacquer on the underside is completely original and has not been relacquered.
"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."

In its form the present finely carved tray appears to be inspired by earlier, Song dynasty, wares such as the plain black-lacquer tray in the collection of the Nezu Institute of Art in Tokyo illustrated in The Monochrome Principle, Munster, 2008, pl. 1. See also a foliated square tray with floral carved decoration, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, illustrated in James C. Y. Watt and Barbara Brennan Ford, East Asian Lacquer. The Florence and Herbert Irving Collection, New York, 1991, p. 90, pl. 31, where the authors note that this type of vessel is representative of a class of carved lacquer of the mid-Ming period. Another closely related piece carved with the 'three friends' motif, in the Seattle Art Museum, is illustrated in Sir Harry Garner, Chinese Lacquer, London, 1979, pl. 73, where it is attributed to the sixteenth century. Further compare a square tray with similar exaggerated scalloped corners, carved with the design of figures and pavilions in a landscape setting, published in Lee Yu-Kuan, Oriental Lacquer Art, New York and Tokyo, 1972, pl. 120.

Unusually, the figural scene covers the entire surface without the usual border band decoration. More frequent are square trays with a central figural landscape motif within a border of foliate scroll decoration such as the piece in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in Zhongguo qiqi quanji, vol. 5, 1995, Fuzhou, pl. 23, together with a slightly smaller tray,  also from the Imperial court collection and still in Beijing, pl. 50. See also a tray sold at Christie's London, 9^th June 1975, lot 119, carved with a mountainous river landscape within a border of confronting dragons.