A carved tixi lacquer circular box and cover. Ming Dynasty, 15th century, signed Zhang Cheng Zao.  photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012 

The top of the cover and sides of the box are deeply carved through alternating layers of black and red lacquer to depict swirling classic scrolls. The interior and base of the box is covered in dark brown lacquer. 4¼ in. (10.8 cm.) diam. Lot 207. Estimate £40,000 - £60,000 ($64,560 - $96,840)

Notes: There is a carved lacquer tray with the same maker's mark, in the Kitamura Art Museum, Kyoto, included in the exhibition, Carved Lacquer, the Tokugawa Art Museum and Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, 1984, is illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 52. A cinnabar lacquer box and cover carved with peony flowers, also signed Zhang Cheng Zao was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 29 November 2005. There is a further comparable example of a cinnabar lacquer box carved with peony which is signed Zhang Cheng zao in the Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya city, Japan, illustrated in Karamono, Imported Lacquerwork, 1997. no. 59 

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 15 May 2012. London, King Street