A CINNABAR LACQUER BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of circular form, the flat cover deftly carved with farmers and buffalos at work in the fields in a landscape with cottages and trees, all encircled by a keyfret band, the sides of the box and the cover decorated with a honeycomb diaper ground each enclosing a floret, the interior and base lacquered black, carved and gilt to the inside of the cover with a four-character inscription reading Quangeng baohe (Treasured box of diligent agriculture)

There are extensive age cracks with associated flakes running along the interior edge of the box and the cover, and another one (3cm) to the interior base of the box. The cover has a circa 4cm crack to one side, (visible on both sides) and other more minor age cracks. There are small chips and areas of loss to the lacquer, including a 0.2 x 0.1cm circular area near the rim of the box, areas along the keyfret border, a 0.5 x 0.3cm loss to the tip of the rocky edge in the landscape, and other extremities. The rims of the box could possibly been re-lacquered with some cracks consolidated.
"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 present box belongs to a small group of Imperial Qianlong boxes with a four-character inscription describing the subject of the decoration. Compare a box carved with the motif 'Releasing the Cranes' illustrated in Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colors, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, cat. no. 117 and a circular box with the motif 'Playing the Qin' offered in our Hong Kong rooms on 8th October 2010, lot 2581.

The scene appears to be based on paintings of ploughing and weaving such as Jiao Bingzhen's Gengzhi tu dated to the Kangxi Period.