Lot Essay
This rectangular box is intricately carved through multiple layers of red, green, and yellow lacquer. The cover is centered with the character chun enclosing Shoulao, the God of Longevity, flanked by a deer and a crane under a pine tree. All these are raised above a large bowl overflowing with auspicious emblems and radiating waves worked in tri-coloured tiers, reserved against a wan diaper ground and bordered by a band of keyfret pattern.
The present box follows related chun lacquer boxes and covers first produced during the Jiajing period; see an example from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2006, p.176, pl.134. A similar Qianlong period example can be found from the Qing Court Collection. See a circular box and cover, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Lacquer Ware of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 2006, p.88, pl.61.
The present box follows related chun lacquer boxes and covers first produced during the Jiajing period; see an example from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2006, p.176, pl.134. A similar Qianlong period example can be found from the Qing Court Collection. See a circular box and cover, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Lacquer Ware of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 2006, p.88, pl.61.