Circular cinnabar lacquer box and cover
Xuande period, 1426 – 1435
Diameter: 18.5 cm | 7 9/32 in

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The box is globular and compressed in form; its cover is carved with two sinuous five-clawed dragons encircling a lotus flower in full bloom, amongst a profusion of leaves – the scrolling stem passing through the mouth of each beast. The dragons’ bodies and tails partly obscure six further lotus flowers decorating the domed sides. The bottom half of the box is carved with a wide band depicting two winged dragon fish (makara) amongst crashing waves, and a circular foot rim is created by the recessed base.

Similar example: Carved Lacquer in the Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1985 – plates 85 and 86. The lid of this square box with indented corners, catalogued as Xuande era, is carved with a similar composition – the details of the dragons and lotus flowers being very close in both style and execution; this is most clearly seen in the work on the dragons’ heads, and the construction and detailing of the lotus flowers.