A TIANQI AND QIANGJIN LACQUER CABINET, QIANLONG TO JIAQING PERIOD
China, 1736-1821. The rectangular cabinet supported on a waisted foot raised and rectangular stand with two scroll-form feet, with two doors opening to reveal two shelves, below canted shoulders containing two drawers, all surmounted by a smaller two-door rectangular cabinet.

The front is finely lacquered in red, brown, green, and black with a hilly river landscape lined with trees including pine and willow, houses, and bridges, the sides similarly decorated with foliate and angular scroll enclosing flower baskets, bats, and lotus, all framed by key-fret borders.


Provenance:
From a London dealer-collector, acquired from a car boot sale in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Condition:
Good condition, commensurate with age, showing expected old wear, small losses, minor old repairs, light scratches, nicks and chips. Overall with a naturally grown patina and displaying remarkably well.

Weight: 3,660 g
Dimensions: Height 51.5 cm, Width 46.6 cm, Depth 12.9 cm

The metal hinges and fittings are finely chased with leafy vines against a ring-punched ground and the pulls are shaped like pomegranates.


Expert's note
: The present lot is remarkable not only for its unusual shape, but also for the quality of carving, rendering a complex design of various motifs with meticulous attention to detail. The contrasting high and low reliefs through layers of rich Tianqi and Qiangjin lacquers accentuate the three-dimensionality of the decoration, revealing the opulent taste of the Qianlong emperor whose influence was still felt well into the Jiaqing reign.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 3 November 2022, lot 138
Price: GBP 10,200 or approx.
EUR 14,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare carved cinnabar lacquer cabinet, Qianlong/Jiaqing period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, albeit with a different material, and the identical pomegranate pulls and engraved metal fittings. Note also the related size (50 cm high).




乾隆至嘉慶時期戧金填漆開光櫃


中國，1736-1821 年。木櫃上下兩部分，上部分是一個可以對開的小櫃子，下部分為一層抽屜、對開櫃子、一層抽屜以及雙足。第一層抽屜為左右兩個抽屜，斜角。對開櫃子打開後上下兩層，左右開間，共四個小方間。最下面的抽屜只有一層。雙足直角外翻上再内卷。通體填漆戧金、描金裝飾，畫面富麗。第二層門芯板飾山水圖，奇岩矗立，蒼樹繁茂，岸邊數間屋舍叢聚，畫面佈局富有層次，情懷雅緻。側面同樣飾有葉角捲軸，內有花籃、蝙蝠、蓮花，雷紋邊框。


來源：
倫敦經銷商收藏家，從英國劍橋的一個汽車後備箱拍賣中購得。

品相：
狀況良好，磨損、小缺損、輕微小修、輕微劃痕、刻痕和缺口，自然包漿。

重量：3,660 克
尺寸：高 51.5 厘米，寬 46.6 厘米，深 12.9 厘米


拍賣結果比較:

形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦邦翰斯，2022年11月3日，lot 138
價格：GBP 10,200（相當於今日
EUR 14,000
）
描繪：清乾隆/嘉慶剔紅亭台人物圖小櫃
專家評論：比較非常相近的外型，但不同的材質，相同的石榴拉環和雕刻金屬配件。請注意相近的尺寸(高50 厘米)。