A small cabinet and stand. Qianggjin and tian ...

A small cabinet and stand. Qianggjin and tianqi lacquer. Ming dynasty

Of square shape on four small feet between curved aprons on three sides together with a separate stand with rolled feet. A drawer behind the single door. Yellow metal lock and hinges. All sides with a geometric ground of wan symbols and decorated in various shades lacquer. To the door, a red-framed reserve featuring a curved bowl also on a red lacquer table. The bowl is decorated with peonies over a leaf border and densely filled with fruits and flowers. The top panel is decorated with a five-clawed dragon chasing the flaming pearl over rocks and waves and the left and right hand sides each feature flowering branches in an archaic vase on a red lacquer table. The inside lacquered black with the shelf decorated with flowering twigs, the drawer front below with a dragon, matching the door in colour and technique. The base with the same decor as the inside shelf. The cabinet probably a marriage: the door and drawer front Wanli, the rest probably later.

Cabinet height 62.4 cm; width 44.1 cm; depth 23.6 cm

Stand height 6.4 cm; width 47 cm; depth 25 cm