A carved cinnabar lacquer circular box and cover Ming dynasty, 15th – 16th century | 明十五至十六世紀 剔紅嬰戲圖雙面圓盒

Property from the Baoyizhai Collection

A carved cinnabar lacquer circular box and cover

Ming dynasty, 15th – 16th century

抱一齋珍藏

明十五至十六世紀 剔紅嬰戲圖雙面圓盒

the flat circular cover crisply carved through deep layers of cinnabar lacquer with three boys depicted frolicking in a rocky landscape arboured with pine and wutong trees, one boy depicted hitting a gong and looking back at the boys behind him, another riding a bamboo pony, the other holding a large lotus leaf with furled edges, a small pavilion set beneath the willow tree, all against a diapered round, the interior lacquered black, the underside and sides of the box similarly carved with a scene depicting a boy shooting a bird hovering over them with another boy watching behind him, all against a diapered ground, the interior lacquered dark brown

7.7 cm