A CHINESE THREE-COLOUR CINNABAR LACQUER 'PEACHES' BOX AND COVER

18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Carved in relief with blossoming and fruiting peach branches, the peaches finely incised with floral diaper, the large leaves picked out in dark green, all reserved on a subtle yellow diamond diaper ground, with bands of fylfots to the sides of the box and cover, the interior and base lacquered black, 11.6cm. (2)

Cf. S Kwan, Chinese Lacquer, The Muwen Tang Collection Series, vol.20, pp.324-325, no.120 for a comparable pair of boxes with a lychee design; see also Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colours: Treasured Lacquerware in the National Palace Museum, p.168, nos.187-188 for further similar examples decorated with lotus and peaches respectively.