Lot 136. A large ‘Qiangjin’ and ‘Tianqi’ lacquer ‘Dragon’ box and cover, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1622-1722); 46.2cm, 18¼in. Estimate 8,000 — 12,000 GBP. Lot sold 10,000 GBP. Photo Sotheby's.

of chrysanthemum form, divided into sixteen lobes, the domed cover with a raised panel finely incised and gilt in the qiangjin technique and further picked out in the tianqi polychrome enamels, depicting a five-clawed dragon coiling around a flaming pearl, surrounded by four dragons in various poses writhing amongst ruyi clouds and enclosed within a keyfret border, the sides similarly decorated on each lobe with a dragon writhing amongst clouds in pursuit of a flaming pearl, the box adorned with jagged mountains standing on turbulent waves beneath vaporous clouds, the rims encircled by bats in flight amongst clouds and the foot bordered by a keyfret band, the interior and base lacquered black.