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| 130 A very fine circular carved polychrome lacquer box Qianlong period Diameter: 11 1/2 in, 29.1 cm of cushion shape and supported on a ring foot. The top is decorated on a green wan diaper ground with a circular panel deeply carved with a basket of Precious Objects, from which red, green and buff rays emanate, supporting a large chun (spring) character that is inset with a roundel containing the Star God, Shouxing, and his deer; two sinuous, scaly, two-horned, five-clawed dragons amid cloud scrolls flank the character. The panel is surrounded by a band of classic scroll. The sides of both the box and cover are carved with a total of eight shaped panels of scholars at various pursuits and their attendants in lakeland landscapes, separated by Precious Objects, and all reserved against a green and buff diaper ground. The rims are decorated with scrolling floral bands and the foot with key-fret. The inside and base are lacquered black. |
| Such chun boxes are based on prototypes of the Jiajing period; it is rare to find a cushion-form example. Yang Boda discusses the origins of the Qianlong examples in “History of Carved Lacquer in Suzhou in the Qing Dynasty” and notes that it was recorded in Archives of the Imperial Workshop at Yangxin Hall of the Qing Palace that circular chun boxes were rated as superior by the Emperor in 1743 and a special order of twelve more was issued in 1758.
A very similar, but flatter, Qianlong mark and period box in the Avery Brundage collection is illustrated in Garner, Chinese Lacquer, pl. 90. For another example and its Jiajing prototype, see Chinese Lacquer in the Palace Museum Collection, nos. 67 and 37; and a further example from the collection of the Nanjing Museum is illustrated in Zhongguo Qiqi Quanji, Vol. 6, no. 213. |
