The lobed body of the plum blossom-shaped boxes carved with an archaistic, simplified dragon pattern against a diaper ground, rising to a wide everted rim of petal outline. The domed cover carved with further sections of archaistic, geometrical patterns and ‘ruyi’ heads against a key-fret diaper ground, beneath a metal finial, encircled by petal lappets. The interior and base of the ‘zhadou’ covered in black lacquer.
A pair of carved cinnabar lacquer lobed boxes and covers, ‘zhadou’ (Qianlong period, 1736-1795)
Description
Dimensions: 15.7cm diameter, 8.9cm high
Provenance:
A private German collection
Exhibited:
Museum für Lackkunst, Münster, 2010, ‘Chinesische Lackkunst – Eine deutsche Privatsammlung’
Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt, 2011, ‘Lacquer, Masterworks from China (12th – 18th Century)’
Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, 2012-2013, ‘… in Lack getränkt. Eine deutsche Privatsammlung chinesischer Lackkunst’
The lobed body of the plum blossom-shaped boxes carved with an archaistic, simplified dragon pattern against a diaper ground, rising to a wide everted rim of petal outline. The domed cover carved with further sections of archaistic, geometrical patterns and ‘ruyi’ heads against a key-fret diaper ground, beneath a metal finial, encircled by petal lappets. The interior and base of the ‘zhadou’ covered in black lacquer.
Compare an identical example, missing its cover, in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Tapei (no. K1H000318N000000000PAD). A similar pair of ‘zhadou’ from the Parry Collection, were sold at Bonhams London, 2 November 2021, lot 57.
