Rare chariot en zitan et incrustations d'ivoire, perles et pierres dures Dynastie Qing, époque Qianlong (1736-1795)

posé sur un socle rectangulaire à quatre pieds à décor ajouré de rinceaux feuillagés sous une frise de grecques, le chariot reposant sur quatre roues embellies de palmettes en ivoire rayonnant autour du coeur, les deux tiroirs à la façade plaquée d'ivoire imitant une pile de livres ouvrant dans des directions opposées, les côtés latéraux ornés de cartouches rectangulaires encadrés de grecques en ivoire sculpté abritant des motifs floraux de lys, prunus, chrysanthèmes et bambous en pierres dures, la partie haute sertie d'une large collerette de feuilles sous une balustrade ajourée en ivoire teinté vert rythmée de perles et surmontée d'une piles de livres ouvrant à deux tiroirs, d'une autre pile formant boîte et d'une pile de six rouleaux cachant une boîte à trois compartiments, le tout très délicatement sculpté d'un semis géométrique et plaqué d'ivoire dont la couleur claire contraste avec la teinte brun foncé du zitan (20)

Sotheby's New York, 19th March 1997, lot 399.

The cart is comprise of eight principal pieces: the base, the frame with the wheels, the box with drawers, a frame, another base and two scroll and book-shaped boxes. The base is in overall very good condition. The carving fine, the zitan of the gold-flecked type. The pink silk covering the centre of the base is worn around the edges and corners. The frame with wheels is also in good overall condition. Two legs are loose, some small ivory elements missing. The frame carrying the case is in overall very good condition. All four corners have been reattached with glue at a later stage. There is some minor loss and some scratching to one corner of the frame. The case is in overall very good condition. Two inlays are off but are there, some of the fine wooden bands are loos and need to be reattached. There are some minor losses to the rim on the top of the case particularly to the corners. There are some splits visible on the inside of the wood of the rim and a ca. 5cm wide stretch where the wood has been filled in. The second base is in good overall condition. The stained green ivory galleried rim is set with ten pearls (not tested). The three cases are in very good overall condition. They are finely carved, most of gold-flecked zitan, and the surfaces have a nice patina. Each box is padded and lined with textured yellow silk and smells slightly of camphor.
"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."

This exquisitely conceived piece is remarkable for the combination of elements which have been individually treated with remarkable skill and care to result in a masterfully executed and harmonious design. Conceived to simulate a cart loaded with three scrolls and two books, such elaborate curiosity pieces are very rare and would have enjoyed a place of prestige in an elegant scholar’s studio. No close counterpart appears to have been published although a small cabinet with an almost identical superstructure, but the lacking the wheels on the cart and slightly different in form, formerly in the collection of Mr Hosokawa Moriatsu, was included in the Exhibition of Chinese Arts of the Ming and Ching Periods, Tokyo, 1963, cat. no. 492.

For a similarly carved zitan box in the form of six scrolls surmounting an album, compare an example in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in the exhibition The Imperial Packing Art of the Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 1999, cat. no. 36. According to the catalogue, Qianlong’s love of painting and calligraphy fuelled the development of boxes for such treasured items. The characteristics of these containers included the use of choice materials, the preferences being zitan, carved lacquer, cloisonné and bamboo, due to their durability and fine quality which would complement the painting and calligraphy. The shape and decoration of these containers were also carefully considered to reflect both their contents and the imperial authority of the emperor.

Boxes carved in the form of a cart are better known in carved cinnabar lacquer; see one example illustrated in Carved Lacquer in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1985, pl. 361, and another example, sold in our London rooms, 9^th November, lot 252. A cart surmounted by three tubular scroll boxes, but lacing the elaborate canopy, formerly in the collection of Lord Hollenden, was sold in our London rooms, 18^th and 19^th December 1973, lot 464. Compare also a carved lacquer box in the form of three scrolls stacked on two albums, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in the exhibition The Imperial Packing Art of the Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 1999, cat. no. 33.