Lot 290.  A carved lacquer 'peony' incense box and cover, Early Ming Dynasty; 5.4cm (2 1/4in). Estimate £ 6,000 - 8,000 (€ 7,000 - 9,300). Photo Bonhams.

The cover with a central majestic blossoming peony surrounded by trailing foliage and smaller buds, the deeply carved design revealing the bright orange ground underneath, the box carved en-suite, Japanese box and silk pouch.        

Note: Lacquer boxes of this small delicate size were generally used for keeping rouge or as incense boxes to hold aromatic pellets and pieces of scented wood. The attractive floral carving also suggests that it was probably made for a lady to be used in her chamber.

Compare two closely related examples held in museum collections; one in the Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya, illustrated in Imported Lacquerwork – Chinese, Korean and Ryukyuan (Okinawa), Tokyo, 1997, pl. 59; and one in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, published in Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquer Ware, Taipei, 1971, pl. 18.

A box with similar decoration, but slightly larger size, was sold By Christies, Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 30 November 2016, lot 3427.

A carved cinnabar lacquer 'peony' box and cover, Ming dynasty, 14th-15th century; 3 3/8 in. (8.7 cm.). Sold for 200,000 HKD at Christies, Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 30 November 2016, lot 3427. © Christie's Images Ltd 2016

Bonhams. Asian Art, London, 4 Nov 2019