Lot description
AN VERY RARE AND IMPORTANT CARVED POLYCHROME LACQUER BOX AND COVER WANLI INCISED AND GILT YIWEI CYCLICAL DATE CORRESPONDING TO 1595, AND OF THE PERIOD The top of the canted rectangular cover superbly carved through thick layers of red, green, yellow and black lacquer with a large ogival barbed panel depicting an upright full-face five-clawed dragon holding a tray above its head supporting a Shou roundel flanked by Wan characters above a 'flaming pearl', all against a darker diaper wave pattern ground set below a yellow brocade sky with floral stems emerging from waves crashing against rockwork, the sloping sides with pomegranate, chrysanthemum and camellia floral sprays borne on undulating vine within borders of further undulating floral scroll, supported on a low foot encircled by a key-fret border, the undecorated base incised and gilt with the reign mark and cyclical date 12 5/8 in. (32 cm,) wide, Japanese wood box
