Lot 4223. A carved cinnabar lacquer square tray, Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century, 7 7/16 in. (18.9 cm.) square. Estimate HKD 200,000 - HKD 300,000. Price realised HKD 125,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2012

The square tray with flaring sides is carved in the centre depicting a seated aged scholar in voluminous robes resting on the river bank under a willow tree, accompanied by a boy attendant making herbal medicine, and another boy catching fish, a crane with outspread wings flying in the sky. The sides are adorned with peony, chrysanthemum and pomegranate sprays. The base is lacquered black, Japanese wood box. 

Note: The depiction of an aged gentleman relaxing in a riverscape has long been a popular motif on carved lacquer as early as the Yuan dynasty, such as a foliate oval dish similarly decorated with an old man resting on a boat in a river under the shade of willow trees, dated to the Yuan dynasty, illustrated in 2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer, Hong Kong, 1993, p. 84, pl. 37. 

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 30 May 2012, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall