Olivia Xu
Associate Specialist
Lot 127*
A RARE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'NINE DRAGONS' BOX AND COVER Qianlong six-character mark and Jiu long bao he four-character mark and of the period
Withdrawn
Amended
18 May 2023, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£30,000 - £40,000
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Chen Xie
Specialist
Edward Luper
Specialist, Chinese Works of Art
A RARE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'NINE DRAGONS' BOX AND COVER
Qianlong six-character mark and Jiu long bao he four-character mark and of the period
The box of cylindrical form with straight sides, the cover carved in crisp relief with three ferocious five-clawed dragons emerging from tumultuous waves in mutual pursuit of the flaming pearl, the base and interior lacquered black, the latter engraved on the base with the six-character mark and on the cover with a four-character Jiu Long bao he, meaning 'Nine-Dragon treasure box' box and cover. 16.5cm (6 1/2in) diam. (2).
The box of cylindrical form with straight sides, the cover carved in crisp relief with three ferocious five-clawed dragons emerging from tumultuous waves in mutual pursuit of the flaming pearl, the base and interior lacquered black, the latter engraved on the base with the six-character mark and on the cover with a four-character Jiu Long bao he, meaning 'Nine-Dragon treasure box' box and cover. 16.5cm (6 1/2in) diam. (2).
Footnotes
清乾隆 剔紅九龍寶盒帶蓋
「大清乾隆年製」「九龍寶盒」楷書款
Intricately carved with a complex design of nine dynamic five-clawed dragons striding in pursuit of flaming pearls, the present piece reveals the opulent taste of the Qianlong emperor and the zenith of lacquer carving achieved during his reign. Rendered with ferocious expressions, gaping jaws that reveal sharp fangs, bulbous eyes and flaring nostrils, the muscular dragons thrash through the clouds to create a brilliant scene of intense strength and energy.
Boxes of this quality and carved with this motif were produced at the Lacquer Workshops of the 'Zaobanchu' (Imperial Palace Workshop), located in the Forbidden City. According to the archives of the Imperial Lacquer Workshop, it is recorded that, on the fourth month of 1738, the Qianlong emperor ordered the workshop to produce carved lacquer wares with engraved Qianlong reign marks; see Lin Mun-lee, Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colors: Treasured Lacquerware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, p.117.
The present lot belongs to a group of deeply carved cinnabar lacquer boxes and covers which project a three-dimensional effect and a sense of movement through precise knifework and expert execution; see a related circular box carved on both cover and underside with three mythical beasts amidst waves, Qianlong, and compare also the dragon amidst waves on a square box and cover, Qianlong, both in the Qing Court collection, illustrated in Lacquer Wares of the Qing Dynasty: The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2006, pls.9 and 15; see also a rectangular 'three dragon' box and cover, Qianlong mark and period, illustrated by Lin Mun-lee, ibid., pl.132.
The nine-dragon motif refers to the nine sons of the dragon, longsheng jiuzi (龍生九子), who are the mythological sons of the Dragon King. This subject matter can be seen as early as the Song dynasty, as painted on the famous ink and colour handscroll titled 'Nine Dragons' attributed to the Southern Song dynasty Court painter Chen Rong (1200-1266) in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (acc.no.17.1697). Compare with a related example of a cinnabar lacquer 'nine dragon' box and cover, Qianlong and jiulong baohe ('Treasure box of nine dragons') marks and period, illustrated by Lin Mun-Lee, Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colors: Treasured Lacquerware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, p.135, no.135.
Two similar cinnabar lacquer boxes and covers, with a Qianlong mark and longwen baohe marks and period, were sold respectively at Bonhams Hong Kong, 3 December 2015, lot 32, and Sotheby's London, 16 May 2007, lot 75; a further cinnabar lacquer box and cover with a Qianlong and yunlong baohe mark and period, was sold at Christie's Paris, 15 June 2004, lot 123.
Saleroom notices
Please note this lot is withdrawn.
