Beschreibung:

AN EXTREMELY RARE LARGE IMPERIAL CARVED POLYCHROME LACQUER PEACH-SHAPED BOX AND COVER ACCOMMODATING NINE MATCHING BOXES AND COVERS
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
AN EXTREMELY RARE LARGE IMPERIAL CARVED POLYCHROME LACQUER PEACH-SHAPED BOX AND COVER ACCOMMODATING NINE MATCHING BOXES AND COVERS QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795) The top of the cover has a panel of conforming peach shape is deeply carved on a green wan -diaper ground with a bowl of 'precious objects', radiating red, green and yellow rays illuminating a large chun character decorated with a roundel enclosing Shoulao and a deer in a landscape setting. The central motif is flanked by a pair of sinuous dragons amidst densely scrolling clouds. The rounded sides of the box and cover are carved with bats in flight amidst leafy boughs bearing peaches and blossoms. The cover opens to reveal a black lacquer fitted tray decorated in gilding with further bats amidst scrolling foliage surrounding nine recesses that accomodate nine small peach-shaped boxes, eight of which are decorated with the attributes of the Eight Daoist Immortals, anbaxian , bordered by bats and clouds, while the ninth box, in the center, is decorated with a bat suspending a ribbon-tied chime and paired peaches. The carving is reserved on different colored diaper grounds including brown, green, cinnabar, yellow, black and grey. The interiors and bases of all the boxes are lacquered black. 18 1/8 in. (46.1 cm.) wide