RARE BOÎTE COUVERTE EN FORME DE 'DOUBLE-LOSANGES' À QUATRE COMPARTIMENTS EN LAQUE SCULPTÉE DYNASTIE QING, ÉPOQUE QIANLONG |

le couvercle finement sculpté de deux dragons à cinq griffes affrontés encerclant la perle enflammée sur fond de vagues, ceint d'une frise de leiwen, les côtés à décor de cartouches quadrilobés contenant des compositions de vase fleuris et objets de lettrés, les angles à décor de fleurs de lotus, le socle de forme analogue décoré de formes géométriques reposant sur six pieds ruyiformes et surmontés d'une frise saillante de leiwen (5)  

There is some re-freshing to the inner rims and tiny areas of overpainting. There is a ca. 3,5 cm rectangular-shape piece broken off and restuck to the rim of one tier. There are some age cracks overall.There is wear associated with some losses to the surface around the foot rim of the stand.
"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 box is remarkable for its symmetrical design of two meticulously carved dragons, their vigorous scaly bodies rising and falling among waves and their arms and claws outstretched towards a flaming pearl in the form of a shou (longevity) character. Crisply carved in different levels of relief, the lozenge shape of the box further heightens the dynamism of the scene. Known as fang sheng (double lozenge), lacquer boxes of this form were first made in Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Compare, for example, a Jiajing mark and period box, decorated in the qiangjin and tianqi technique with a dragon and phoenix, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Shanghai, 2006, pl. 151. A closely related box in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, was included in the exhibition Gugong qiqi tezhan mulu [Catalogue of the special exhibition of lacquerware in the National Palace Museum], Taipei, 1981, cat. no. 57; two tiered boxes of this shaped were sold at Christie’s New York, the first, 6th May 1980, lot 248, the second, 20th March 2001, lot 81; yest another example was sold in Christie’s Hong Kong, 29th November 2005, lot 1562.