A RARE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER CUPSTAND SONG DYNASTY

of circular form finely carved through th fine layer of cinnbar lacquer to the yellow floral diaper ground below with four large peony blossoms wreathed in curling foliage, between a band of petal lappets and keyfret encircling the black lacquered central stand and rim, the underside decorated with lotus lappets and a scroll band, the base lacquered in black

The Lee Family Collection.
Christie's Hong Kong, 1st December 2009, lot 1805.

Dragon and Phoenix. Chinese Lacquer Ware, The Lee Family Collection, The Museum of East Asian Art, Cologne, 1990, cat. no. 30.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1990/91.
Chinese Lacquerware, Shoto Museum of Art, Tokyo, 1991, cat. no. 36.

The cupstand is in very good overall condition. There are some expected occasional age crackles and light wear on the underside, the black lacquered center rim and base are likely to have been stabilized with additional layer of lacquer over the course of time, but overall the piece has been remarkably well preserved.
"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."

Lacquer cupstands of this form are rare as they are more commonly found with a tall flared foot rather than the flat base as on the present piece. In both form and decoration it appears to have been inspired by gold and silver ware; compare a pair of silver cupstands of similar shape, attributed to the Song dynasty, decorated with a flower scroll on a punched ground, in the Pierre Uldry collection, illustrated in Chinesisches Gold und Silber, Zurich, 1994, pl. 270, together with a Tang dynasty bowl rendered with related flower blooms with combed petals and spiralling tendrils, pl. 147; and a gold saucer attributed to the Song dynasty, published in Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Ostasiatiska Museum, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 51.

Compare also three lacquer dishes carved with related designs of flower blooms with combed details on a diaper ground, included in the exhibition The Colors and Forms of Song and Yuan China. Featuring Lacquerwares, Ceramics, and Metalwares, Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, Tokyo, 2004, cat. nos 110-112; and another from the Lee Family collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1st December 2009, lot 1806.