Lot 1251. A carved red lacquer circular box and cover, Ming dynasty, 16th century. Estimate USD 6,000 - USD 8,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016

Both the cover and box are well carved with leafy, fruiting branches, each fruit finely carved with a different diaper pattern and all on a floret-diaper ground. The interior is covered in black lacquer. 3 1/16 in. (7.7 cm.) diam.

Provenance: Private collection, Toyama, circa 1960s.

Note: A red lacquer box and cover of similar size (7.9 cm.) wide, also dated to the 16th century is in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, and was included in the exhibition Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colors - Treasured Lacquerware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, p. 66, no. 48.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 16 September 2016, New York, Rockefeller Plaza