AN IMPERIAL 'DRAGON' HARDWOOD CHEST, COMMEMORATING THE RENOVATION OF THE JADE PEAK PAGODA BY EMPEROR QIANLONG Opinion: The Jade Peak Pagoda, or Yu feng ta, is a famous building on Jade Spring hill in the Imperial Garden, Jingming Yuan, in Beijing. The site was originally an Imperial retreat during the Liao dynasty. Later destroyed, it was renovated in the 18^th century by the Qianlong Emperor. The pagoda is 30 meters high, has seven stories, an octagonal base and frame, and is built of brick and stone. Its design imitates the Cishou Pagoda of Jiangtian Temple on the Golden Hill near Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province. It seems plausible that the present lot with its virtuously carved Imperial dragon on the lid was created to commemorate the renovation of the pagoda by Emperor Qianlong. Likewise, the ruling family of Liechtenstein is known for always having maintained an intimate relationship with China, only recently lending the country 100 works by Rubens, van Dyck and other highly important Flemish masters, for the exhibition "Masterpieces from the Collections of the Prince of Liechtenstein" in Beijing's National Museum of China.

China, 1736-1795. Of rectangular form standing on four short bracket feet with a hinged cover. The cover virtuously carved in deep relief with a sinuous dragon amidst clouds, framed by a key-fret border, the sides decorated with clouds within rectangular reserves above a finely incised key-fret band. The interior cover with a blue silk panel, finely painted to depict the Jade peak pagoda on the Jade Spring hill with a stupa in the background.

Inscriptions: Upper right, a poem about lotus flowers and stillness, signed 'Zhou Peiting', one seal.

Provenance: From the collection of Wilhelm Alfred von und zu Liechtenstein, in the family since at least the late 19th century. Wilhelm Alfred von und zu Liechtenstein (1922-2006) was the cousin of Franz Josef II, Prince of Liechtenstein. On 21 September 1950, he renounced his name and title and began to study at the University of Natural Resources in Vienna, graduating as a forest engineer and subsequently active in various management positions in the wood industry. From 1990 until his death, he was the Grand Prior of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Wilhelm received several national honors, including the Grand Decoration of Honor in Silver with Sash in 1999.
Condition: Very good condition with some old wear, natural age cracks, an old fill to the base, few nicks and scratches, minor splits and losses. Superb patina overall.

Weight: 6 kg
Dimensions: Size 15.5 x 48.7 x 30.4 cm


清代御製硬木龍紋木箱
中國，1736-1795年。長方木箱，四短足，長方形，立在四個短支架腳上，木蓋有鉸鏈。 蓋上精美地雕刻著一條蜿蜒在雲層中的龍，雷紋邊框；箱子外壁飾雲紋。蓋内以藍色絲綢嵌板，描繪頤和園内玉泉山上的玉峰塔。

專家注釋：玉峰塔，或稱玉峰塔，是北京御花園玉泉山上的一座著名建築，位於景明園。該地原是遼朝時的皇室禁地。後來被毀，在十八世紀由乾隆皇帝重修。該塔高30米，有七層，八角形底座和框架，由磚石建成。它的設計模仿了江蘇鎮江金山寺慈壽塔。本件拍品的蓋子上刻有德高望重的御龍，似乎是為了紀念乾隆皇帝重修寶塔而製作的。同樣，列支敦士登的統治家族也因一直與中國保持著密切的關係而聞名，最近才借給中國100件Rubens、van Dyck和其他非常重要的Flemish School的作品，用於在北京中國國家博物館舉辦的《Masterpieces from the Collections of the Prince of Liechtenstein》展覽。

款識：絹本畫面上可見“菱荷香遠亭臺靜，寶塔流雲景愈幽。周佩亭並題”。

來源：Wilhelm Alfred von und zu Liechtenstein收藏，最晚在十九世紀末進入家族收藏。Wilhelm Alfred von und zu Liechtenstein (1922-2006) 是列支敦士登親王Franz Josef II的表弟。1950年9月21日他放棄了自己的姓名和頭銜，開始在維也納自然資源大學學習，畢業於森林工程係，隨後活躍於木材行業，擔任各種管理職位。從 1990 年到他去世，他是馬爾他主權軍事教團的大主教並獲得了多項國家榮譽，包括 1999 年的銀質榮譽勳章。
品相：狀況極好，有一些磨損、自然老化裂縫、底座修補、少量刻痕、劃痕、輕微裂痕和缺損。整體包漿良好。

重量：6 公斤
尺寸：15.5 x 48.7 x 30.4 厘米