λ  A rare early 19th century Chinese export lacquer compendium cabinet

λ  A rare early 19th century Chinese export lacquer compendium cabinet, all over finely decorated in gilt with panels of figures on terraces and in gardens and pavilions, the pagoda hinged lid decorated to the underside with an oval border with battle scenes, the banners refer to the three armies of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, together with peacocks and other birds and leaves, revealing a divided lift-out tray with lidded compartments and fitted with carved ivory sewing utensils, above a pair of fan and cartouche panelled doors, the insides decorated with urns revealing three conforming drawers, the top one with a plush lined tray for jewellery, the lower drawer with a sunken brass handle is a boxed writing slope, with a plush lined writing slope and divisions for inkwells and pens, on carved giltwood dragon feet with a pearl held in its mouth, the back decorated with a large urn with peacocks, 42.6cm high, 40cm wide, 24.5cm deep.

Provenance: Antigone Clarke & Joseph O'Kelly, Antique Boxes, Tea Caddies & Society, 1700-1880, 2nd Edition, p.170, fig.237.