Item Report
Qing Style Chinese Carved Cinnabar Lacquer 'Shou' Character Box
清式雕漆“寿”字圆盖盒
By: Unknown (pseudo-Qianlong mark present)
Style: Qing Dynasty Style / Cinnabar Carved Lacquer
Origin: China
Materials: Carved cinnabar lacquer over wood, black lacquer interior
Age: Late 20th century–early 21st century (modern reproduction in Qing style)
Condition: Very good (minor lacquer losses, artificial surface wear, no serious structural damage, not officially graded)
Value: $250–$500
Maker's Marks / Writing: Bottom interior with four-character ‘乾隆年制’ (Qianlong Nianzhi, 'Made during the Qianlong period') square seal mark, cast or impressed.
Date: 2025-06-29 19:19:25.204711
Description:
A large, round, lidded box of carved cinnabar lacquer on wood core, featuring elaborate decoration. The lid is dominated by a large 'Shou' (寿, longevity) character with radiating lines and auspicious Buddhist and Daoist motifs, surrounded by a band of dragons amid clouds, and a low-relief figural border. The sides are carved with narrative scenes of figures in landscapes, pine trees, and stylized waves, all symbols of longevity and good fortune. The interior and base are plain black lacquer, and the underside bears a square four-character seal mark, pseudo-Qianlong (乾隆年制). Detailed carving and dense patterning are evident. The box exhibits age-related wear to high points and some minor lacquer loss. 一件大型圆形雕漆盖盒，木胎，通体髹朱漆，盖面以巨大的“寿”字为中心，四周辐射祥云、龙纹及吉祥图案，外围环绕人物故事与器物图案，寓意长寿、福禄。边缘和盒身均雕刻有松树、人物和云纹。内底及外底髹黑漆，外底中央刻有仿乾隆款“乾隆年制”四字方印。整体雕刻精美，层次分明，有明显岁月磨损与部分漆面小缺失。
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
This is a well-carved cinnabar lacquer box in the Qing dynasty style, featuring distinctive auspicious motifs and a pseudo-Qianlong seal mark. However, several key fraud flags are present: (1) The calligraphy, design sharpness, lacquer tone and surface wear indicate post-1970s manufacture rather than authentic Qing dynasty production. (2) The Qianlong mark is typical of late 20th-early 21st century forgeries, often intended to deceive. (3) The color and evenness of the lacquer, as well as the 'antique' patina and stylized wear, are results of artificial antiquing rather than true age. While the item is decorative and demonstrates substantial handwork, it is a modern reproduction, not an authentic antique. A word about fakes... The cinnabar lacquer field is flooded with forgeries targeting non-experts: authentic period boxes with these motifs are vanishingly rare and valuable, but the vast majority of pieces on today's market are well-crafted fakes. This box should be appreciated as a decorative modern object, valued accordingly by the market. And that's etched in Jade..! 这是一件仿清代风格的雕漆盒，雕工精细，内容祥瑞并带有仿乾隆四字款。但存在多项造假红旗：（1）从雕工、书法、漆层色调及表面磨损来看，属于1970年代以后现代作，非真正清代旧物；（2）底部乾隆款为常见现代仿品手法，意在误导买家；（3）漆面色泽与人工做旧痕迹明显，并非自然老化。虽然器物手工雕琢精美，具有装饰性，但归根结底乃现代仿古品，非真品古董。关于赝品的提醒……雕漆领域赝品横行，具此题材与款识的真品罕见且极具价值，但当今市场绝大多数为工艺性极强的赝品。建议以现代装饰品心态对待，市场估值亦以此为准。And that's etched in Jade..!
Individual Images:
- The close-up reveals consistent crispness in the carving and some areas of chipped or abraded lacquer—typical of artificial distressing. The side scenes feature multi-figure scholarly narratives with flora and classic Chinese auspicious motifs
- but the handling is slightly stiff and lacks the vitality of true antiques. The interior base stamp is a four-character pseudo-Qianlong reign mark
- faint in some areas. Color saturation and repeated shading differences indicate controlled
- modern workshop application
- not centuries-old patina.
Provenance:
No provenance documents or images of paperwork provided.
Condition:
Very good (minor lacquer losses, artificial surface wear, no serious structural damage, not officially graded)
Identification Score: 97%
The motifs, technique, and form conform closely to known Qing style large cinnabar lacquer boxes. There is little doubt as to the intended type and use of the item. 纹饰、工艺和造型高度符合清式大雕漆盖盒的特点，对类别和用途判断几无疑义。
Authenticity Score: 15%
The piece displays numerous indicators of modern production, including a spurious Qianlong mark, atypical wear, uniform carving depth, and a lacquer tone consistent with post-1970s manufacture. Genuine Qing period cinnabar boxes with ornate designs are exceedingly rare; this example is a contemporary decorative reproduction. 该件有多项现代制造特征，包括仿乾隆款、非自然磨损、雕刻深浅均匀和漆层色调，明显为1970年代以后的现代制品。真正清代雕漆盒极为稀罕，此器为近当代工艺仿古品。
Image Memory Note
Large, circular, carved cinnabar lacquer box with lid, approx. 12–14 inches in diameter, featuring prominent 'Shou' (longevity) character and surrounding radiating wave-and-cloud patterns, with dragons, coral, and Buddhist/Daoist motifs. Outer border on both lid and body has narrative scene bands of figures in landscape, alternating with clouds and flora. The overall tone is reddish-black, with visible artificial surface abrasion. The interior and underside are finished in black lacquer; the inside center base has a four-character square pseudo-Qianlong reign mark: ‘乾隆年制’. No obvious signs of wormholes or natural lacquer stratification. There are minor chips and abrasions, especially on the edges. Signature design elements include stylized dragons, bats, waves, and figures in robes. No old collector’s labels, and no documentary provenance. 一件大型圆形雕漆盖盒，直径约30－36厘米，盖面雕大型“寿”字及辐射云海、水波、龙、珊瑚、佛道教吉祥物。盖沿与器身饰人物故事、松树、祥云等浮雕。漆色红黑交错，表面多处人工磨损迹象。内外底髹黑漆，内底正中模压“乾隆年制”四字方章。未见虫洞或天然漆道层理，局部边缘有小磕与裂痕。纹饰包括龙纹、蝙蝠、海水等。无旧藏标签，亦无任何文献证据或来源材料。
Keywords
Qing style, cinnabar lacquer, longevity character, Shou, round box, carved lacquer, Chinese, Qianlong mark, reproduction, late 20th century 清式、雕漆、寿字、圆盒、剔红、雕刻漆器、中国、仿乾隆款、仿古、20世纪末
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