A FINE CHINESE TIANQI AND QIANGJIN LACQUER 'DRAGONS' BRUSH POT, BITONG

Qing Dynasty, Qianlong mark and of the period

清乾隆 填漆戧金雲龍戲珠紋方筆筒

《大清乾隆年製》款

Of square form, each side finely carved with a confronting five-clawed dragon chasing a flaming pearl, rising up from cresting waves and through swirling cloud formations against a wan fret background, the recesses decorated with gilt lacquer, the base with an incised and gilt-painted six-character Qianlong mark

12.5cm long, 14cm high

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NOTE:

The present lot is a fine example of the combination of two different artistic techniques. The first, 'qiangjin', saw the craftsman etch the designs and outline with gilt. The second, 'tianqi' (filled-in), denotes the application of different-coloured lacquers in multiple layers.

See a related cylindrical brush pot utilising the same colour palette and use of gilt, dated to the Kangxi period, offered at Sotheby's London, 07 November 2012, lot 277. A square-form brush pot from the Marsh Collection with a plainer design, also dated to the Kangxi period, was sold at Bonhams London, 6 November 2023, lot 55. A cylindrical brush pot decorated with dragons, bearing Qianlong mark and dated as being of the period, was sold at A.H. Wilkens, Toronto, November 16, 2023, lot 3076.

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