A Circular Cinnabar Lacquer Box and Cover Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period

of circular form, the cover carved through layers of cinnabar lacquer to the black ground beneath, depicting a scholar and an attendant, standing holding a peach in both hands while his acolyte holds onto a branch of peaches placed over his shoulder, all below a wutong tree amidst jagged rockwork and against a diapered key-fret background, the sides of the box bordered with key-fret and interspersed with wan symbols, the flat base of the box incised with a leafy lotus bloom, the interior of the box and cover lacquered in black