Beschreibung:

AN EXTREMELY RARE EARLY MING MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID BROWN LACQUER STATIONARY BOX AND COVER
YUAN/EARLY MING DYNASTY, 14TH/15TH CENTURY
AN EXTREMELY RARE EARLY MING MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID BROWN LACQUER STATIONARY BOX AND COVER YUAN/EARLY MING DYNASTY, 14TH/15TH CENTURY The rectangular cover finely inlaid with iridescent mother-of-pearl with an aquatic scene depicting a pair of courting mandarin ducks with intricately detailed plumage among budding and blossoming lotus reeds, with fish, crabs and crustaceans swimming at their feet, all below pairs of butterflies, birds and dragonflies and a spider suspended from overhanging fruiting pomegranate and willow branches, the sides of the box and cover decorated with alternating full chrysanthemum and lotus blooms borne on slender leafy scrolling stems, the shaped apron with scattered Buddhist emblems, accompanied by a later added fitted Japanese lacquer tray with an inkstone and bronze waterpot 11 x 8 1/4 in. (28 x 21 cm.), Japanese wood box