A CINNABAR LACQUER INGOT-FORM ‘ZHANG XIAN’ THREE-TIERED BOX AND COVER, 16TH CENTURY

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A CINNABAR LACQUER INGOT-FORM ‘ZHANG XIAN’ THREE-TIERED BOX AND COVER, 16TH CENTURY Published & Exhibited: Patricia Frick, exhibition catalogue, Chinesische Lackkunst. Eine deutsche Privatsammlung, Museum für Lackkunst, Münster, 2010, no. 29 (dated late 16th-early 17th century). China. The cover finely carved to depict the Daoist immortal Zhang Xian holding a bow and arrow and aiming at the legendary celestial dog, which is flying amid scrolling clouds. He is accompanied by three boys, one holding an osmanthus, another an alms bowl, and with a pine tree to their left. The bottom layer neatly incised with geometric patterns, while the middle layer is defined by stylized blossoms, and the sides are incised with alternating leaves. Dimensions: Size 11 x 9.8 x 9.3 cm The unusual ingot-shaped form can be traced back to the Song dynasty. For a Yuan dynasty ingot-shaped incense box with mother-of-pearl inlays see the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, object number B83M3.a-.b. The form gained wider popularity during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when it served as a form of currency, and became a symbol of wealth and prosperity. The present box is decorated with a scene dedicated to Zhang Xian, a popular deity associated with the birth and protection of male offspring. In Chinese tradition, Zhang Xian was revered as a guardian of lineage and family continuity, embodying the deeply rooted Confucian ideal of preserving the ancestral line through generations of sons. The deity is often depicted accompanied by three boys, drawing a bow towards the celestial dog (tiangou) as it causes solar eclipses by eating the sun, which symbolizes the death of newborn boys and marriages without boys. The auspicious symbolism of this box is further reinforced through a series of visual puns. The three boys accompanying Zhang Xian emphasize the wish for numerous sons. The form of the box imitates the shape of a silver ingot (ding), a traditional symbol of wealth and prosperity. This association is strengthened by the pun between ding (ingot) and ding (‘assuredly’ or ‘must’) conveying wishes for stability, prosperity, and the fulfillment of hopes. Literature comparison: Compare a related multicolored, silver-inlaid, and ingot-shaped lacquer box, Jiajing mark and period, 24.2 cm long, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, reference number 故00108560. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 2 May 2025, lot 1020 Price: HKD 441,000 or approx. EUR 50,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of carving. Note the size (20.5 cm) and different motifs.

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