A rare cinnabar lacquer 'dragon' box and cover, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795)
Lot 153. A rare cinnabar lacquer 'dragon' box and cover, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 32.2cm., 12 5/8 in. Estimate 12,000 — 18,000 GBP. Lot sold 22,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.
of quatrefoil form, the domed cover deftly carved in various levels of relief, depicting a quatrefoil panel with three five-clawed dragons writhing amongst turbulent waves contesting a flaming pearl, all enclosed within a keyfret band, the sides of the cover and the box similarly decorated with flowering prunus scattered on a sea of cresting waves, the rims and foot encircled by keyfret bands, lacquered black to the interior and base.
Note: This box is notable for its intricately carved design of three ferocious five-clawed dragons chasing flaming pearls. A closely related box was sold at Christie’s London, 11th December 1989, lot 273. See also a five-lobed box with this design and inscribed with a poem sold in our New York rooms, 21st/22nd September 2005, lot 186. According to this poem, boxes carved on the cover with three dragons and with scattered plum blossoms on the sides are representative of winter, and were part of sets of four boxes, each symbolising a different season.
Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, London, 13 may 2015.