Description
Ming Dynasty, 16th century. Carved cinnabar lacquer
This circular seal box, is deeply carved in black relief depicting Lichee fruiting sprays intertwined among leaves and branches, over a red diaper ground representing land.
One of the largest groups of carved cinnabar lacquer of the 16h century, was small round boxes decorated on both sides/the whole, typically in red and usually depicting floral motifs, although sometimes landscape or figural designs as well. Black over a red ground is less frequently found and thus considered to be slightly rarer. When exported to Japan, as was often the case, these boxes were used in the tea ceremony. Today most well-preserved examples of Chinese carved cinnabar lacquer are sourced from Japan, where they have been cherished and carefully collected since antiquity.
Dating this box to the 16th century based on form alone is relatively straightforward, however in addition, there is an identical box in The Winchester College museum’s collection, also dated to the 16th century. For the purposes of dating there is also a similar box dated to the 18th century in the collection of the MET, in which one can see the decline in quality in the later years of the Qing dynasty verses the 16th century example.
Size: 8.5 cm x 3 cm
Provenance: Japanese private collection.
Condition: In generally good condition. Minor damage to the underside and the inner rim consistent with long term use.
