A CHINESE RED CINNABAR LACQUER CIRCULAR BOX AND COVER

14TH/15TH CENTURY

The domed cover carved in relief with stylized petals encircling a central hexagonal seed pod, 7.5cm. (2)

Provenance: formerly in a New England collection.

Cf. Carving the Subtle Radiance of Colors, Treasured Lacquerware in the National Palace Museum, p.58, no.035, where a slightly larger box is illustrated, dated to the 15th century. And also The Linden Museum, Germany, where two examples from the Fritz Low-Beer collection (1906-1976) are held, one dated to the Yongle period, the other to the Xuande period.