A rare Chinese cinnabar lacquer tiered double lozenge shaped box and cover, Qianlong...

A rare Chinese cinnabar lacquer tiered double lozenge shaped box and cover, Qianlong period, the cover finely carved with two five-clawed dragons chasing a flaming pearl formed as a stylised shou character on a ground of crashing waves, the sides carved with panels of precious objects, the interior and base covered in black lacquer, raised on a cinnabar lacquer stand on six ruyi-form feet 23cm high x 28.5cm wide

Note: The double-lozenge, also known as fang sheng 方勝, is one of the Eight Treasures, babao 八寶, which was a much favoured motif used in decorations during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Lozenge-shaped lacquer examples first appeared in Ming dynasty; see a qiangjin polychrome and gilt-lacquer lozenge-shaped box and cover, Jiajing mark and period, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Shanghai, 2006, no.151. The inspiration from previous generations was in line with the Qianlong emperor's instructions to his court and craftsmen to look to China's past for moral guidance and artistic inspiration.

See a cinnabar lacquer box and cover of very similar shape and design, mid-Qing dynasty, in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, illustrated in Once in Cao Family-Donations of Ancient Chinese Lacquerware by Cao Qiyong Family, Hangzhou, 2014, no.138. Compare also with a cinnabar lacquer lozenge-shaped box and cover, 18th century, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colors-Treasured Lacquerware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, no.152.