清十八世紀 剔紅雲龍紋捧盒

of circular form, the flat top of the domed cover deftly carved with a five-clawed dragon writhing amidst ruyi-shaped clouds against a background regularly diapered with motifs of waves, its scaly body writhing sinuously around a flaming pearl, the rounded sides decorated with four further dragons leaping amidst ruyi-shaped clouds, each pursuing a flaming pearl, all against a wavy diaper ground and between a key-fret band encircling the flat top and the rim, the box similarly detailed with two pairs of confronting dragons against a diaper ground, each pair soaring through ruyi-shaped clouds in mutual pursuit of a flaming pearl, a trefoil band picked out on the underside, all between a key-fret band encircling the rim and foot, the interior and base lacquered in black

巴黎蘇富比2009年12月18日，編號182

There is a narrow 5cm chip to the flange of the box that has broken off. There is a 2cm shallow chip to the foot that is lost. Small chips to the extremities including scales of the dragon cover chips to clouds. There is relacquering to the black lacquer on the interior and the cinnabar lacquer on the inner flange. Both box and cover appear to have been professionally cleaned.
"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."

While lacquer boxes decorated with front-facing dragons are common, examples carved with side-facing dragons coiled around a flaming pearl are unusual and were inspired by Ming Dynasty designs. See a box with a similar design, but with a dragon enclosed within a cartouche, included in the exhibition Masterpieces of Chinese Carved Lacquer Ware in the National Palace Museum, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 971, pl. 24; and another depicting a dragon amongst waves, published in Royal Ontario Museum. The T.T. Tsui Galleries of Chinese Art, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, 1996, pl. 126. For the Ming version of this motif see a Yongle box in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in 200 Objects You Should Know. Carved Lacquer Ware, Beijing, 2008, pl. 36, together with a Xuande example, pl. 44.

The five-clawed dragon is symbolic of the emperor and the pairing of dragons with a flaming pearl combines elements from two separate traditions: the dragon from Chinese mythology and the jewel from Buddhist iconography. The talismanic wish-granting jewel represents transcendent wisdom, and when depicted with the dragon this motif was highly suited to imperial works of art, as the emperor's status was said to be heaven-endowed.