Lot 633. A carved cinnabar lacquer 'magnolia' tray, Mid Ming dynasty; 36.1cm diam. Sold for HK$ 250,000 (€ 29,684). © Bonhams.

Of octagonal form bordered by a band of keyfrets on the everted rim, the sides decorated with a frieze of chrysanthemum and leafy sprigs above a central octagonal rouleau enclosing magnolia issuing from rockworks, all against a diaper ground of a double-diamond enclosing a formalized floret, the carving is deep, well rounded and bold, the base lacquered black.

Note: For a smaller square lacquer 'magnolia' dish of similar composition from the Qing court collection, preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, see Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2006, p.144, pl.105. See also a similar octagonal lacquer tray illustrated by Derek Clifford, Chinese carved lacquer, London, 1992, p.47, pl.29.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 24 Nov 2012, Hong Kong, Admiralty