A CINNABAR LACQUER 'LU DONGBIN' BOX AND COVER, MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A CINNABAR LACQUER 'LU DONGBIN' BOX AND COVER, MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY China. The rectangular box raised on four short feet, finely carved through thick layers of cinnabar lacquer, the top of the flush-fitting cover depicting a dramatic landscape scene with the Daoist immortal Lu Dongbin standing amid pine trees, rocks, and a terrace, where scholars gather around a table to welcome him. The immortal is shown carrying his characteristic sword, surrounded by swirling clouds, dressed in flowing robes. The sides are similarly decorated with leafy flowering peony, while the interior and base are lacquered in black. Dimensions: Size 18.5 x 25.5 cm The present scene depicts Lu Dongbin, one of the most widely known of the Eight Daoist Immortals and traditionally regarded as their leader. A legendary Tang dynasty scholar and poet, Lu Dongbin is said to have lived for more than two centuries and is revered as one of the earliest masters of neidan, or Daoist internal alchemy. In Chinese art, he is generally shown as a scholar wearing flowing robes and carrying his characteristic sword, which symbolizes his power to dispel evil spirits; he is also frequently depicted as a wandering immortal appearing among human society. The figure of Lu Dongbin on the present lacquer box is shown arriving at a terrace where scholars gather. This type of encounter between the perfected Daoist figure and cultivated scholars emphasizes the meeting between the mortal world of learning and the transcendent realm of immortality. A related composition is preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Yuan-period fan painting The Immortal Lu Dongbin Appearing over the Yueyang Pavilion, which similarly depicts Lu Dongbin’s miraculous appearance before a pavilion setting. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams New York, 15 March 2021, lot 119 Price: USD 22,812 or approx. EUR 25,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving, motifs, and size (25.4 cm).

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