A CINNABAR 'TIXI' LACQUER BOX AND COVER SIGNED YANG MAO, YUAN DYNASTY |

the circular cover carved fluidly carved along the straight sides and flat top with scrollwork, the sides of the box similarly carved with scalloped partial scrolls, all through alternating layers of cinnabar, black and ochre lacquer, the interior and base lacquered black, the latter further incised with a three-character inscription reading Yang Mao zao (made by Yang Mao), Japanese wood box

In good overall condition with just minor chips and minute flakes to the edges of the box including one tiny restuck chip 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."

The carved design on the current box, known as tixi or the Japanese term, guri (curves and circles), was a pattern established towards the end of the Song dynasty. The scrolling foliage design on the current box, referred to as juancao (scrolling grass) or xiangcao (fragrant grass), first appeared on Song dynasty lacquerwares and enjoyed considerable popularity well into the Yuan dynasty. On the base, the present box bears the needle-engraved signature Yang Mao zao (‘made by Yang Mao’). Yang Mao is known from Gegu yaolun [The essential criteria of antiquities] by Cao Zhao of 1388, where he and Zhang Cheng, both of Xitang in Jiaxing district, Zhejiang province, southwest of modern Shanghai, are mentioned as carvers of red lacquer who became famous at end of the Yuan dynasty (Xinzeng gegu yaolun [New expanded edition of the essential criteria of antiquities], vol. 8, p. 2).

A closely related Yuan dynasty cinnabar tixi lacquer box, also signed Yang Mao, but slightly smaller in size, is preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession no. 91.1.645. Compare two other examples inscribed with the name of Yang Mao: one sold in our London rooms, 16th May 2012, lot 68; and another sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30th April 2001, lot 642, and again in our New York rooms, 15th March 2017, lot 569.