Lot 197. A mother-of-pearl-inlaid black lacquer circular straight-sided tray, Ming dynasty, 16th century; 7 3/4in (5.2cm) diameter, cloth wrap, Japanese wood box. Estimate US$ 1,500 - US$ 2,000. Sold for US$ 1,499 (€ 1,279). © Bonhams 2001-2021

Of circular shape, the interior inlaid with a richly-dressed equestrian figure with two standing attendants, one holding a silk-wrapped qin and passing a farmer with faggots attached to a pole amidst a foliage surround and under a large gnarled pine tree and clouds, the vertical interior and exterior sides with eight evenly-spaced prunus flower heads on a cash-symbol trellis ground below a copper rim, the base with a plain black-brown lacquer.

Property from the Robert and Mee-Din Moore Collection.

Note: Compare with a sixteenth century tray from the British Museum decorated with horsemen in a landscape illustrated by Sir Harry Garner, Chinese Lacquer, London, 1979,, p. 225. no. 171.

Bonhams. Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Paintings, New York, 20 Sep 2021