A CHINESE BLACK LACQUER RECTANGULAR TABLE CABINET

17TH/18TH CENTURY

The front panel removable to reveal two long drawers divided by two smaller drawers beside an inner open compartment, the interior lacquered red with gilt splashes, the fittings paktong, the exterior inlaid with bone, depicting an extensive garden scene of boys and scholars amongst trees, with pagodas beneath clouds in the distance, the top with an Immortal holding a baby on a cloud above a procession, 35cm x 21.4cm x 32.8cm.

Provenance: formerly in a private European collection.

Cf. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Lacquer Wares of the Qing Dynasty, p.259, no.193 for a box with similar inlaid decoration; see also H Garner, Chinese and Associated Lacquer from the Garner Collection, no.144, pl.56c.