A LARGE MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD

of rectangular form with bombé sides and cusped corners, supported on a short foot of conforming section reinforced by two transverse stretchers, finely inlaid overall with iridescent slivers of mother-of-pearl on a black lacquer ground, the cover depicting a divinity, possibly Xiwangmu, engaged in a game of weiqi, seated below a fruiting peach branch issuing from a tall gnarled tree trunk dividing the scene and partially concealing a pavilion above, surrounded by several other immortals and attendants, all scattered on rocky shores interlinked by footbridges and laden with rocks and verdant trees among clouds, entitled Tao Yuan Dong ('Cave of the Peach Blossom Spring') in a rectangular cartouche, the sides decorated with large alternating peony and lotus blossoms repeated around the box, the corners with lobed medallions enclosing chilong roundels against a woven diaper ground, the raised rims and foot encircled with half-cash borders, the interior and base left plain

There are bruises at the corners and typical minor losses of inlays or tarnishing to the slivers mother-of-pearl. The interior, base and rim are crackled with light touch up and minor chips to the latter.
"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 shell used in this type of inlay is the distinctive abalone shell (haliotis), characterised by the intense iridescence which gives the impression of a brightly-coloured painting. The thin sheets of the shell are fixed in wet lacquer, then painted with a translucent layer of lacquer before being polished back to create a smooth surface. Details were often incised or highlighted with gold and silver.                                                 

Compare a box of similar size depicting figures in a pavilion landscape, but with plain straight sides, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Lacquer Wares of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 2006, pl. 170; and another, the sides decorated with panels of birds and flowers, from the collection of Dr. Ip Yee, sold in these rooms, 22^nd November 1984, lot 911. A smaller square box of this type illustrating figures in a pavilion courtyard, with bombé sides and cusped corners as seen on the present lot, was included in the exhibition Im Zeichen des Drachen, Museum für Lackkunst, Münster, 2006, cat. no. 100.