A RARE INLAID LACQUER 'PHOENIX' TRAY, MING DYNASTY China, 15^th-16^th century. Of rectangular shape, lacquered in an elegant reddish-brown color, and finely inlaid in mother of pearl overall, at the center with a cartouche depicting a phoenix flying above pine and rockwork, and scrolling ruyi-shaped clouds in the background, surrounded by a cash-diaper pattern with stylized flowerheads. The sides decorated with a band of stylized floral heads borne on leafy stems, within a line border. The reverse also with stylized flowerheads.

Provenance: From a noted private collection in Pennsylvania, USA.
Condition: Excellent condition commensurate with age, with some old wear, few tiny losses to the inlays, minor flaking to lacquer, few minuscule nicks here and there.

Weight: 499.3 g
Dimensions: Size 35.4 x 26.5 cm

Literature comparison: The style of the mother-of-pearl inlay on the present tray points to a 15^th-16^th century date. Compare the cash pattern and pine needle inlay in a tray, dated 14^th-15^th century, illustrated by J. M. White, Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquer from the Mike Healy Collection, Honolulu, 2005, pl. 8. See the cartouche shape on a tiered box and cover, dated 15^th-16^th century, illustrated in 2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 92. See the leafy scroll on the reverse of a tray, with a Wanli mark and of the period, illustrated by R. Krahl and B. Morgan, From Innovation to Conformity: Chinese Lacquer from the 13th to the 16th centuries, Bluett & Sons, London, 1989, pl. 32.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 7 November 2013, lot 304
Price: GBP 10,000-15,000 or approx. EUR 14,500-21,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare mother of pearl-inlaid rectangular lacquer box and cover, 15th/16th century
Expert remark: Compare the fine inlay work, the reddish-brown color of the lacquer as well as the closely related design and diaper patterns. Note that the lot is a lacquer box and of slightly smaller size (26 cm).


明代珍貴髹黑漆嵌螺鈿松旁鳳凰方盤
中國，十五至十六世紀。長方形折沿，隨形圈足。髹漆為地，呈紅棕色，以螺鈿鑲嵌為飾。盤心上下內緣處以花卉紋錦地，中央開光以如意形，內飾松旁鳳凰飛舞情景。富貴吉祥。

來源：美國賓夕法尼亞知名私人收藏。
品相：品相極好，與年齡相稱，有一些磨損，螺鈿有微小損失，漆輕微的剝落，到處都有一些微小的刻痕。

重量：499.3 克
尺寸：35.4 x 26.5 厘米

文獻比較：以螺鈿鑲嵌為飾是表明本方盤為15至16世紀的作品。比較一件14至15世紀現金圖案和松針鑲嵌裝飾方盤，見J. M. White, Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquer from the Mike Healy Collection, 檀香山, 2005年, 頁8。見一件15至16世紀漩渦花飾的分層蓋盒，見2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer，香港，1993年，頁92。見一件萬曆款和年代的捲葉紋托盤，見R. Krahl and B. Morgan, From Innovation to Conformity: Chinese Lacquer from the 13th to the 16th centuries, Bluett & Sons，倫敦，1989年，頁32。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦邦翰思, 2013年11月7日, lot 304
估價：GBP 10,000-15,000（相當於今日EUR 14,500-21,500）
描述：十五/十六世紀 黑漆嵌螺鈿琵琶仕女圖長方蓋盒
專家評論：比較精細的鑲嵌，漆器的红褐色，以及相近的設計和花紋圖案。請注意此漆盒尺寸稍小 (26 厘米)。