A BLACK TIXI LACQUER CIRCULAR BOX AND COVER, MING DYNASTY China, 15^th-16^th century. The domed circular cover with a stylized central flower, surrounded by five ruyi heads. The box also carved with five ruyi heads, all through a thick layer of brownish-black lacquer alternating with two thin red layers. The interior and base lacquered in a dark reddish-brown tone.

Provenance: From a noted private collector of Chinese lacquer.
Condition: Good condition with old wear, natural age cracks and splits commensurate with age, possibly with microscopic old touchups, the cover with a small chip to the interior, all as expected and from this type of ware and period.

Weight: 122.0 g
Dimensions: Diameter 10.2 cm

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related but slightly larger black tixi lacquer circular box and cover, also dated 15^th-16^th century and similarly carved with a central flower surrounded by ruyi heads, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, in The Baoyizhai Collection of Chinese Lacquer, Part 2, on 7 October 2014, lot 3207, bought-in at an estimate of HKD 250,000-350,000, and a related but possibly earlier black tixi lacquer circular box and cover, dated Yuan to early Ming, carved with the same design but of slightly different form, at Sotheby’s London in Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art on 15 May 2007, lot 322, sold for GBP 14,400. 明代剔犀如意圓蓋盒
中國，十五至十六世紀。圓盒，圓形蓋上中央有五瓣如意花，周圍環繞著五個如意紋。盒子上同樣雕刻著五個如意紋。通體棕黑色漆，中間隱約可見兩層薄薄的紅漆。 內部和底座漆成深紅棕色。

來源：一個知名中國古玩私人收藏
品相：狀況良好，磨損，自然年齡裂縫，可能有微小的舊時修補，蓋子內有小碎片，所有這些都符合預期與這類漆器的時期。

重量：122.0 克
尺寸：直徑10.2 厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相近但更大的剔犀蓋盒，十五至十六世紀 ，相似的花卉紋，四周圍繞著如意紋，見香港蘇富比The Baoyizhai Collection of Chinese Lacquer, Part 2 2014年10月7日 lot 3207, 估價 HKD 250,000-350,000；一個可能更早的剔犀圓蓋盒，元至明初，相同紋飾但不同形狀，見倫敦蘇富比Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art 2007年5月15日 lot 322, 售價GBP 14,400。