A MOTHER-OF-PEARL-INLAID BLACK LACQUER RECTANGULAR TRAY, JOSEON DYNASTY Korea, 16th-17th century. With a wide flaring rim, superbly decorated with stylized lotus flowers on scrolling vines, to the interior with stylized auspicious symbols topping each flower, the base lacquered cinnabar red.

Provenance: Gerard Hawthorn LTD Oriental Art, London, UK, 24 April 2008. A noted private collection in Abcoude, Netherlands, acquired from the above. A copy of the invoice, erroneously describing the piece as Chinese and from the Ming dynasty, accompanies this lot.
Condition: Excellent condition commensurate with age, old wear, crackling, a small loss to one corner with associated touchup, the interior with four and the exterior with two replaced inlays (inspected under strong blue light) out of more than 200 inlays in total.

Weight: 639 g
Dimensions: Size 4.3 x 31.7 x 19.2 cm

Although they superficially resemble and, indeed, are often incorrectly termed as orchids, or even peony blossoms, the flowers depicted on this tray actually are stylized lotus blossoms, as indicated by the appearance of the associated buds. The stylized blossoms, which are known as byeonryeon in Korean, likely first appeared in the silk textiles of China's Song dynasty (960-1279). Popularized in Chinese porcelains of the Yuan (1279-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties, the foreign lotus design, or fanlianwen, spread to Korea early in the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) and was incorporated into the decorative schemes of Korean blue-and-white porcelain, buncheong ware, and inlaid lacquers.

Though little is known of the earliest history of lacquer-making in Korea, archaeological evidence indicates that Korean craftsmen were making lacquered objects at least two thousand years ago, in the late Neolithic and early historic periods. By the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) Koreans were producing elegant lacquer vessels and sutra-storage chests in black lacquer embellished with small floral designs inlaid in mother of pearl, the designs occasionally augmented with small, twisted, metal wires inset as borders and as the stems in floral arabesques. The tradition of inlaid lacquers continued into the succeeding Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), usually in black lacquer with bold floral designs inlaid in mother of pearl. Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 18 April 2018, lot 141
Price: USD 137,500 or approx. EUR 162,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A mother-of-pearl-inlaid foliate-shaped tray, Joseon dynasty (17th-18th century)
Expert remark: Compare the related decoration. Note the form and size (43.4 cm)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 22 September 2020, lot 252
Price: USD 81,250 or approx. EUR 93,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A mother-of-pearl inlaid lacquer stationery box, Joseon dynasty (16th-17th century)
Expert remark: Compare the decoration. Note the form and size (39.1 x 31.4 x 10.2 cm)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 27 May 2014, lot 902
Price: HKD 750,000 or approx. EUR 115,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Rare Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid 'Peony' Lacquer Box and Cover Korea, Chosŏn Dynasty, 16th / 17th century
Expert remark: Compare the related decoration.



朝鮮王朝黑漆髹螺鈿托盤
韓國，十六至十七世紀。托盤敞口，邊緣外翻。飾有纏枝卷葉花卉紋，以及吉祥符號。底部朱紅漆。

來源：倫敦Gerard Hawthorn LTD 東方藝術藝廊，2008年4月24日。荷蘭Abcoude 知名私人收藏，購於上述藝廊。隨附發票複印件（錯誤描述該拍品來自中國明代）。
品相：良好的狀態與年齡相符，舊磨損，開裂，一角有缺損和小修補，一共200多個鑲嵌螺鈿只有內部有四處，以及外部有兩處螺鈿經過替換（在強藍光下檢查）。

重量：639 克
尺寸：4.3 x 31.7 x 19.2 厘米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2018年4月18日，lot 141
價格：USD 137,500（相當於今日EUR 162,500）
描述：朝鮮王朝十六至十七世紀黑漆嵌螺鈿纏枝花紋花瓣盤
專家評論：比較相近的裝飾。請注意外型和尺寸(43.4厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2020年9月22日，lot 252
價格：USD 81,250（相當於今日EUR 93,000）
描述：朝鮮王朝十六至十七世紀黑漆嵌螺鈿纏枝花紋方蓋盒
專家評論：比較裝飾. 請注意外型和尺寸(39.1 x 31.4 x 10.2厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2014年5月27日，lot 902
價格：HKD 750,000（相當於今日EUR 115,000）
描述：朝鮮王朝十六至十七世紀黑漆嵌螺鈿纏枝牡丹紋長方蓋盒
專家評論：比較相近的裝飾。