Lot 309. A tianqi and qiangjin lacquer 'dragons' tray, Wanli incised eight-character mark cyclically dated to the Dingwei year corresponding to 1607 and of the period; 35.1cm (13 3/4in) wide. (3). Sold for £85,980  (Estimate  £60,000-80,000). © Bonhams 2001-2022

Of rectangular form with canted corners and elegantly decorated with two writhing five-clawed dragons each confronting a flaming pearl in the centre, amidst ruyi-clouds and crashing waves and rocks, on a wan-diaper ground, the sides decorated with meandering peony scrolls, the base lacquered black and with incised and gilt mark Da Ming Wanli Dingwei nian zhi, Japanese wood box and cover.  

Note: See a tianqi and qiangjin lacquer incense stand, with nine dragons, also with Wanli mark and also dated to the Dingwei year (1607), is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (acc.no.M.2004.51). Compare with a related polychrome lacquer rectangular tray with filled-in and engraved-gold decoration, with double dragon, Wanli, illustrated in East Asian Lacquer: The Florence and Hebert Irving Collection, New York, 1991, pp.120-121, no.51. Another related tianqi and qiangjin lacquer dragons tray, Wanli mark and cyclically dated to 1623, is illustrated in Chinesische Lackarbeiten, Stuttgart, 1979, pp.130-131, no.79. See also a further example of a tianqi and qiangjin lacquer tray, Wanli 20th year, corresponding to 1592 and of the period, illustrated in Catalogue of Selected Masterpieces from the Nezu Collections, Tokyo, 2001, p.170, no.202.

Bonhams. Imperial Painted Lacquer Furniture and Scholar's Objects from China's Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, 3 November 2022, London, New Bond Street