AN EXCEPTIONAL HARDSTONE-INLAID BIRCHWOOD BOX AND COVERLATE MING DYNASTY |

of rectangular form, exuberantly and skilfully decorated with inlays in lapis lazuli, red goldstone, mother-of-pearl, soapstone, turquoise, malachite, rose quartz, amber and wood, the cover depicting a long-tailed bird perching on a pierced rock with its head turned backwards looking at another bird sheltered amongst lush flowering peonies and magnolia, below two flying butterflies on the top left corner, the sides of the cover and box similarly decorated with fruiting leafy branches of succulent loquat, bordered by silver-wire inlaid keyfret bands encircling the rims, the attractively grained and smoothly polished wood patinated to a golden-brown tone with swirling burls and knots, the interior with a black-lacquered wooden tray