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Qing Style Chinese Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Circular Box and Cover

清式中国雕漆圆盒及盖

By: Maker unknown

Style: Qing Dynasty Style Lacquerware

Origin: China

Materials: Cinnabar lacquer over wood and black lacquer interior

Age: Late Qing Dynasty to early 20th century (circa 1880-1930)

Condition: Excellent (minimal visible wear, well-preserved carving, no obvious chips or repairs)

Value: $1,200 - $2,500 (auction liquidation estimate, depending on confirmation of age and quality)

Maker's Marks / Writing: No visible marks, inscriptions, or reign marks.

Date: 2025-06-27 13:13:42.247763

Description:

A large circular box and cover, carved in deep red cinnabar lacquer. The surface is densely decorated with intricate floral cartouches on the sides and a landscape scene featuring scholars and attendants on the cover. The interior and base are finished in black lacquer. The carving is elaborate, with geometric backgrounds accentuating the floral motifs. This kind of object was popular during the Qing Dynasty, though the crispness and uniformity of the carving suggests a later production, typical of late Qing or 20th-century revival work. Such boxes were used for storing ritual objects, documents, or precious items.     一件大型圆形雕漆盒及盖，采用深红色漆雕。表面密集装饰有精细的花卉开光，盖面中心雕有文人及侍从山水人物场景。内外为黑漆，雕刻精美，几何底纹衬托花卉主题。此类雕漆盒在清代尤为流行，但雕刻的工整度和漆色的统一性暗示该件为晚清或二十世纪复刻之作，常用于存放祭祀用具、文件或贵重物品。

Curator Questions

Curated by Jade

Assessment:

This is a well-crafted example of Chinese cinnabar lacquerware, carved in the style of the late Qing Dynasty. The crisp, even quality of the carving, combined with a somewhat modern reddish hue to the lacquer and lack of significant surface wear, suggests that this is more likely an early 20th-century revival piece or a very late Qing object, rather than a true 18th or early 19th-century work. While beautifully executed and true to Qing aesthetic conventions, it does not exhibit the deep patina and wear expected from imperial-period pieces. A word about fakes... the market for Chinese lacquerware is rife with skillful modern reproductions, particularly pieces imitating Ming and Qing types. Collectors should maintain caution and confirm provenance and age through technical analysis wherever possible. This box is quite collectible and decorative in its own right but should be marketed as a late Qing or Republic period item. And that's etched in Jade..!     这是一件工艺精湛的中国雕漆器，雕刻风格接近晚清时期。其雕工清晰规整，漆色饱满，且表面缺乏明显陈旧使用痕迹，暗示该件更可能为二十世纪初复刻或晚清末期作品，而非真正的十八或十九世纪早期御用作品。虽然整体风格高度还原清代审美，但未见应有的包浆及岁月痕迹。关于赝品的提示…当今雕漆器市场充斥着仿明清类型的高仿品，且鱼龙混杂。藏家应保持警惕，通过技术手段确认来源与年代。这只盒子依然具有很高的陈设和收藏价值，建议作为晚清或民国时期器物收藏与交易。And that's etched in Jade..!

Individual Images:

• Images include close-up views of the carved decoration on the body and cover. Notable features: even
• high-relief carving with crisp floral and landscape motifs; uniform coloration; interior black lacquer shows even surface
• with minor scuffs expected from use. No significant damage
• restoration
• or losses are visible; the edges and foot rim are intact. No base marks
• inscriptions
• or reign marks are visible in these images.

Provenance:

No provenance documentation or related images are shown.

Condition:

Excellent (minimal visible wear, well-preserved carving, no obvious chips or repairs)

Identification Score: 95%

The object's form, decoration, and medium match classic descriptions of Chinese carved cinnabar lacquer boxes from the Qing period, but minor uncertainties exist around the exact age due to the condition of the carving and surface.     此物器形、装饰与工艺均极符合清代中国雕漆圆盒特征，但因雕工和表面状态较新，推断年代尚存小幅不确定性。

Authenticity Score: 40%

While the box is a genuine carved lacquer object, the sharpness of the carving, lack of patina, and surface gloss point to a late Qing or Republic era (early 20th century) date rather than imperial Qing. True 18th/early 19th-century pieces are much rarer and show greater wear and subtler color aging.     虽为真材实料的雕漆制品，但雕工过于新颖，整体缺乏包浆和老化感，更可能为晚清末期或民国早期作品，非清中早期御制器物。十八、十九世纪早期真品应有更多磨损痕迹和色彩变化。

Image Memory Note

The primary object is a large, round, deep cinnabar lacquer box with lid. The cover features a high-relief landscape scene: a river with a boat bearing two figures, a standing figure on the shore, pine trees, and distant rocky hills. Cartouches with prominent floral motifs (peonies, lotus) encircle the sides of both the box and cover. The carving is clean, sharp, and evenly executed. All surfaces are a uniform deep red with a black-lacquered interior and base. No visible cracks, losses, chips, or repairs. No makers' marks, reign marks, or inscriptions are apparent anywhere on the piece. No collection labels, stickers, or provenance marks are visible. No visible damage, with minor scuffs inside the box likely from gentle use.     主体为一大型圆形红雕漆盒，配带盖。盖面高浮雕山水人物场景，包括小舟、二人、岸边一立人、松树与远山。器身与盖周围饰多组花卉开光（牡丹、荷花等）。雕工清晰均匀，表面红漆统一，内外黑漆。无裂纹、跌损、残缺、修补。未见款识、年款、题记，亦无收藏标签或相关出厂标示。整体无损，仅盒内壁有轻微摩痕，属正常使用之迹。

Keywords

Qing style, cinnabar lacquer, Chinese box, carved lacquerware, floral decoration, landscape, late Qing, Republic period, China     清式，雕漆，漆盒，雕漆器，花卉装饰，山水，晚清，民国，中国

Report ID:  : zhgwfn

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