Lot 3031. A rare large qiangjin and tianqi 'phoenix and crane' lacquer box and cover, Jiajing incised six-character mark in a vertical line and of the period (1522-1566); 16 ½ in. (42 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 350,000 - HKD 550,000. Price realised HKD 400,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018.

The cover is delicately incised to the top with a crane and phoenix in flight among a composite floral scroll. The rounded sides are similarly decorated with phoenix and crane amidst floral scrolls, the vertical sides with a band of floral scroll, all picked out in black, brown, yellow, green and red lacquer within gold-filled incised lines reserved on a rich orange-red ground. The box is further decorated throughout with composite floral scrolls, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: A Japanese private collection in Kyushu, formed in the Edo period.

Note: The two decorative techniques involved are known as qiangjin, where the incised outlines are etched in gold denoting the outlines of the design; and tianqi (filled-in) where different lacquers colours had been applied to enhance details and contrast against the coloured ground.