Two-colour circular lacquer box and cover

Southern Song dynasty, 1127 – 1279
Diameter: 23.5 cm | 9 1/4 in

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Formed with two equally divided halves, the cover has a circular flat top surface and domed sides. The inward curving base is supported on a circular raised foot decorated with stylized key frets. The decoration is deeply carved through the top layer of black lacquer to a bright cinnabar ground allowing the designs to clearly stand out – the central panel depicting a figure seated cross-legged on a mat, in a landscape setting, beside a lake. He is attended by two servants, amongst ornamental rocks and plants – below an arching pine tree, and distant mountains and clouds; the cinnabar background is composed of three diaper grounds. The sides, both on top and bottom, are each carved with four cartouche panels depicting naturalistic scenes – two of lychees and birds, and two of a flowering plant and birds – all subdivided by a diaper patterned ground. The interior is painted in red lacquer with a fine crackled surface.

Similar examples: The Colors and Forms of Song and Yuan China, Featuring Lacquerwares, Ceramics, and Metalwares, Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, Tokyo, 2004 – figure 76 illustrates a circular box with a design of pavilions and hermits, from Hayashibara Art Museum, Okayama.

Oriental Lacquer Art by Lee Yu-kuan, published by John Weatherhill, New York, 1972 – plate 68. A carbon 14 test no. RCD 6766 on this box confirms the dating.