A rare carved cinnabar lacquer 'peony' dish
Second half 14th century
With shallow rounded sides resting on a short foot, the interior exquisitely carved in deep relief through the thick red lacquer with three large peony blossoms, the large furled petals enclosing the meticulously carved floral-diapered stamens, all amidst dense foliage of large leaves and further blossoms and buds, the exterior carved with C-scrolls, the base lacquered black, Japanese box and cover. 18cm (7 1/8in) diam. (3).