A THREE-COLOURED CINNABAR LACQUER 'SHOULAO' DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF WANLI

of circular form, finely carved in varied levels of relief through the layers of rich cinnabar lacquer to the green and ochre yellow ground with a central medallion enclosing Shoulao riding on his companion deer surrounded by three attendants, one greeting his arrival, the other following the immortal while clutching a peach sprig and holding a pole suspending a double gourd, the third dressed in a long-sleeved robe dancing near a standing phoenix, all against a floral diaper foreground laden with jagged rocks, below a gnarled pine overhanging the roof of a pavilion emerging from thick billows of clouds, the ochre-yellow sky incised with leiwen, the cavetto encircled with four dragons striding in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl' among ruyi-shaped clouds, the reverse with a scroll of hibiscus borne on a continuous leafy stem against an ochre-yellow ground, the base lacquered in red and incised with a six-character gilt vertical reign mark

Christie’s London, 29th June 1970, lot 43.
Sotheby’s London, 1st/2nd April 1974, lot 120.

There are several typical age cracks issuing from the rim. There are some chips with light touch up to the footring. Apart from this the dish is in overall very good condition.
"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."

A related dish illustrating a sage and three attendants, also with a Wanli reign mark and of the period, in the collection of the National Museums of Scotland, is illustrated in Hu Shih-chang and Jane Wilkinson, Chinese Lacquer, Edinburgh, 1998, p. 46, pl. 21, where the authors note that there are three types of engraved and gilded reign marks on official Wanli lacquerwares: the six-character reign mark placed vertically at the centre of the base, as seen on the present dish, is an example of the earliest marks produced before 1583, following in the traditional style of the Jiajing and Longqing periods, while later marks are either made up of eight character cyclical dates placed vertically or, more frequently, placed horizontally at the top of the base on pieces produced after 1583.

The playful scene carved to reveal the different layers of coloured lacquer is characteristic of early Wanli carved lacquer and closely follows the style of Jiajing polychrome lacquer designs. See a Jiajing mark and period dish illustrating a street vendor surrounded by eight children at play, the well similarly carved with dragons but with the five claws remaining intact, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in Wang Shixiang, Ancient Chinese Lacquer, Beijing, 1987, pl. 63.

This dish also illustrates the close correspondence between craftsmen working in a variety of media; compare, for example, a slightly larger wucai porcelain dish decorated with a similar composition of Shoulao in a landscape, but surrounded by the Eight Immortals and ruyi clouds supporting shou characters around the well, sold in these rooms, 27^th April 1999, lot 414.