A CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'PHOENIX' DISH MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY |

with shallow rounded sides resting on a short foot, carved through the thick layers of cinnabar lacquer to the ochre ground with a pair of phoenix, a male and female, soaring amidst peony blooms and dense foliage, each mythical bird rendered with outstretched wings and meticulously rendered plumage, all surrounded by a frieze of floral buds and blooms borne on gnarled leafy stems on the cavetto, the exterior decorated with a band of lush floral blooms amidst dense foliage, the base lacquered black

A Japanese collection, by repute.
Tanisho Gallery, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, purchased in 1985, by repute.

Good overall condition with just typical age cracks to the underside and minor bruises to the foot.
"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."

This dish is notable for the attention to detail, observed in both the complex composition and the intricate carving of the feathers and petals of the birds and flowers. This vibrant design of a pair of soaring birds surrounded by dense foliage has its roots in the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279). Comparable examples include a smaller lacquer dish also carved with two phoenixes, attributed to the Jiajing period, from the Qing court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Lacquer Wares of Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Shanghai, 2006, pl. 123; one rendered with six cranes In flight amongst ruyi clouds, with an incised six-character Jiajing mark and of the period, sold in our London rooms, 10th June 1986, lot 80; and another, carved with a dragon amidst waves and rockwork,  sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 27th November 2014, lot 149.

For a Song dynasty prototype of the design, see a box preserved in the Engaku-ji, Kamakura, included in the exhibition The Colors and Forms of Song and Yuan China: Featuring Lacquerwares, Ceramics, and Metalwares, Nezu Museum, Tokyo, 2004, cat. no. 92.