A rare carved 'tixi' lacquer gilt-decorated square tray, 17th century. Photo Sotheby's

with canted incurved corners and shallow, rounded sides, supported on a straight foot, the center painted in gilt with deer grazing amidst cypress trees, the sides deeply carved with tixi-style symmetrical scrolls in alternating layers of black and red lacquer. Length 12 1/2 in., 31.8 cm; Depth 12 1/2 in., 31.8 cm. Estimation 20,000 — 30,000 USD

For a related work with inlaid lacquer in the form of a square box and cover see Sir Harry Garner, "Guri Lacquer of the Ming Dynasty," Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society," vol. 31, London, 1957-1959, pl. 21c. Garner notes on p. 69, "A guri box is also known with gilt designs of landscapes painted inside in a style which suggest the Kang-hsi period. Such pieces seem to be at any rate as late as the second half of the seventeenth century." Guri being the Japanese pronunciation for the characters read in Chinese as tixi.

Sotheby's.Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art.New York | 18 mars 2014 - www.sothebys.com