A WEIQI BOX AND COVER LATE MING / EARLY QING DYNASTY note height 6. 3cm., 2.25in. the compressed globular body carved in low relief with a band of flowering branches of peony, camellia and magnolia and a spray of bamboo leaves, reserved against a formalised diaper ground, between a double-unit leiwen band at the base and a formalised petal collar, the lid carved in the shape of a lotus leaf, the wood of rich dark brown tone Quantity: 2 The form of this box closely recalls the classic guan shape of early Ming ceramics, many of which also had original covers of leaf form. A similar pair of weiqi boxes made from huanghuali wood is illustrated in S. Handler, Austere Luminosity of Chinese Furniture, California, 2001, p. 200. Another pair, but lacking the finely carved decoration seen on the present piece, was included in the exhibition The Imperial Packing Art of the Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 1999, cat.no. 122, and a further pair in Qing Legacies - the Sumptuous Art of Imperial Packaging, Macau, 2000, cat. no. 94. Compare also a pair sold in our New York rooms, 26th November 1991, 441, and one sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 19th January 1988, 487. Estimate - 25000-30000