A polychrome lacquer 'dragon' square tray, Mark and period of Qianlong

Collection of Louis-Victor de Rochechouart, marquis de Mortemart (1909-1938), and thence by descent.

This tray is remarkable in its use of a wide range of polychrome lacquers. Inspired by sixteenth century prototypes but a uniquely eighteenth century imperial innovation in its attention to detail and mastery of colour, surviving examples of the present design are rare. Compare a Ming dynasty prototypical example of this design preserved in the Palace Museum and attributed to the Jiajing reign in Carved Lacquer in the Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1985, pl. 175; a closely related Qianlong example of this design preserved in the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo (accession no. TH-474); and another in Beijing illustrated ibid., pl. 331. This playful polychrome design of confronting dragons about a shou (‘longevity’) roundel also features on the cover of closely related square boxes of Qianlong mark and period. Compare an example of this type sold at Christie’s New York, 19th March 2009, lot 590; and another in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colors. Treasured Lacquerware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, cat. no. 136.