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Lot 67

A THREE-TIERED ZITAN PICNIC BOX AND COVER, TIHE
19th century

14 May 2025, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £3,584 inc. premium

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A THREE-TIERED ZITAN PICNIC BOX AND COVER, TIHE

19th century
Of rectangular shape, comprising a cover and a shallow upper tray above three stacked trays, held on a base frame with two side posts flanked by pierced confronting dragon form spandrels and joined at the top with a humpbacked handle, the cover with corner ruyi-head mounts, with a metal threading pin.
27.5cm (10 7/8in) high x 38.5cm wide (15 1/4) x 21cm (8 1/4in) deep.

Footnotes

十九世紀 紫檀三層提盒

Tihe such as the present lot were traditionally used in affluent households to present delicate dishes to guests. Additionally, they served as practical containers for travel, offering convenience on journeys. From the Qing dynasty onward, the function of these vessels shifted from portable utility to ornamental items within domestic settings. For further discussion on this type of vessel, see Yan Yu, 'Transforming Rare Curios to Ornamental Display Items: Examining the Shapes, Structure, and Functions of Mountain Travel Cases in the Ming and Qing Dynasties' (從林下珍玩到案上清供——明清遊山提盒的形製與功能), in National Palace Museum Monthly of Chinese Art, 2018.01, pp.80-91.

Compare with a similar zitan picnic box, 18th/19th century, which was sold at Bonhams London, 10 November 2016, lot 129.

Additional information

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