A RARE CARVED TWO-COLOUR LACQUER 'DRAGON' CUPSTAND QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the finely carved 'bowl' constructed with rounded sides collared by a lobed mallow-form 'dish', resting on a hollow splayed foot, the exterior of the 'bowl' carved with a pair of five-clawed dragons striding through ruyi-shaped clouds and flaming wisps below a key-fret band encircling the rim, the 'dish' bordered with a ridged rim, the interior carved with three dragons soaring through further ruyi-shaped clouds, their serpentine bodies meticulously rendered with fine scales, the underside with dense ruyi-shaped clouds repeated at the splayed foot, all carved through rich cinnabar red layers against a diapered ground

Spink & Son Ltd., London.

The Minor Arts of China, Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1983, cat. no. 11.

The cupstand has been preserved in exceptional condition with just typical age cracks, minor bruises and general surface wear. There have been areas of retouching to the rims, foot and interior.
"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."

Expertly carved with sinuous dragons chasing 'flaming pearls', the dynamism and remarkable detail of the present piece reveals the opulent taste of the Qianlong Emperor and the zenith of lacquer carving achieved during his reign. Rendered with animated expressions, striding legs and powerful twisting bodies and tails, the five-clawed dragon is symbolic of the Emperor. The dynamism of the design is heightened by the considerable depth of carving and richness of surface texture, which has been made possible by the thick coat of lacquer that has been built up through the time-consuming process of applying one thin layer at a time. The tremendous skill of the carver can also be appreciated when considering the shape of the vessel and the way in which the craftsman has overcome the challenges presented by the curved surface and acute angles to create an ornate and harmonious design.

Cupstands of this complex form and carved against a green ground are rare, although a similar example was sold in our London rooms, 21st June 1977, lot 215; and a pair, with their matching bowls, was offered at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27th April 1997, lot 19. Cupstands of this shape are also known inscribed with a Qianlong mark and of the period, such as one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Lacquer Wares of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 2006, pl. 12; and another included in the Special Exhibition of Lacquerware in the National Palace Museum, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1981, cat. no. 47. 

The form of this piece can be traced back to silverware of the Tang dynasty, while the petal-like foliations and the slight incurved rim are characteristics of the cupstands made in the Song and Ming dynasties. A plain black lacquer cupstand of a slightly simpler form was discovered in a Northern Song dynasty tomb at Wuhan, illustrated in ‘Wuhanshi shi lipu Bei Song mu chutu qiqi deng wenwu’, Wenwu, 1996, no. 5, pl. 7, fig. 3; and one with a Yongle mark and of the period, carved with phoenix, was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong exhibition 200 Years of Chinese Lacquer, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 47.