Lot 18. A pair of black lacquered guri lacquer bowls, China, Ming dynasty. Estimate 4 000/6 000 €. Photo Nagel.

the deeply carved guri-pattern (Japanese: bow, curve and circle) reveals that the black lacquer is finally composed by at least 14 or 15 different thin, alternating black and red-brown lacquer layers, with the last layer on top is black lacquer. The two guri-bowls had initially been or should have been covered inside and on the base with a silver plated copper or bronze sheet, fixed in the small grooves at the rim and foot-ring - D. 12,5 cm - Minor wear, very minor traces of age

See an example with similar carved decoration in the British Museum collection as illustrated in Chinese Lacquer, by Sir Harry Garner, London, 1979, p. 117, no. 53. Guri is a Japanese name for the pommel pattern found on this bowl. Also known as tixi, which is the Chinese name for 'marbled' lacquer, with grooves cut revealing the mulitple layers, it is generally used with the 'pommel scroll' pattern, a name coming from the pommel scroll pattern found on early Chinese swords. The pattern has its origins in the Southern Song Dynasty.

Nagel Auctions. "Asiatische Kunst", Sale 736, 06.05.2016