Lot 371. A superb and extremely rare silver-inlaid and stone and mother-of-pearl inset 'golden' zitan three-part stacking box, attributed to Zhou Zhu, Jiajing-Wanli period (1522-1619); 12,5 x 18,6 x 13,5 cm. Estimate: € 60.000 - € 80.000. Result: € 867.000. Courtesy Nagel. 

Property from an old and important European private collection, bought according records 1928 in Beijing.

Note: This exquisite box belongs to a small group of inlaid containers typically produced in the precious zitan wood, and occasionally in huanghuali. Generally they are of rectangular form and are finished with elegantly rounded covers and sides. It is of exceptional quality with the inlay decoration applied both to the cover and the sides which is rarely seen on other boxes of this type. Only one three-tiered box appears to bear such floral side decoration, illustrated in Zhongguo wenwu jinhua dacidian, Shanghai, 1996, pl. 116.

Fine Asian Art Stuttgart - Part I by Nagel Auction, December 8, 2020