A RARE THREE-COLOR LACQUER ‘LOQUATS’ BOX AND COVER, QIANLONG PERIOD

拍品描述

A RARE THREE-COLOR LACQUER ‘LOQUATS’ BOX AND COVER, QIANLONG PERIOD Published & Exhibited: Ben Janssens Oriental Art, TEFAF 2020, London, 2020, pp. 56-57. China, 1736-1795. Finely carved through layers of cinnabar red, green, and ochre lacquer, the flush-fitting cover decorated with six loquat, the ripe fruits carved with lozenge diaper and issuing gnarled stems with large leaves and blossoms, all against further diaper, the sides similarly decorated with a wan pattern. The base and interior lacquered black. Dimensions: Length 7.9 cm Asymmetrical, fruit-shaped boxes such as this one were crafted as part of elaborate sets of vessels designed to hold delicate confections, often stored together within larger fitted cases. This box exemplifies the technical virtuosity and symbolic richness prized at the Qing court under the Qianlong Emperor. The depiction of loquats, as seen in the present lot, is highly exceptional in Chinese lacquer wares. Loquats (pipa) bloom in the autumn or early winter, and their fruit ripens from spring to early summer. Their year-round vibrancy is considered to embody the essence of all four seasons. Additionally, the golden yellow colour of the fruit has led to their recognition as symbols of good fortune. This box exemplifies the technical virtuosity and symbolic richness prized at the Qing court under the Qianlong Emperor. The depth of the carving of the peaches on the cover and the lattice patterns on the sides are both typical of eighteenth-century carved lacquer wares. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related polychrome lacquer box with lychee decoration, 9.4 cm long, dated to the Qing dynasty, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, object number 故漆000200N000000000. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 3 June 2015, lot 2927 Price: HKD 150,000 or approx. EUR 21,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related form with a similar three-color lacquer. Note the size (14.8 cm) and different subject.

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