A 'SCHOLAR UNDER THE LYCHEE TREE' CINNABAR LACQUER BOX AND COVER, MING DYNASTY China, late 15th-16th century. The top of the cover finely carved with a scholar seated on a promontory below a towering lychee tree and holding a fan, flanked by his two young attendants, surrounded by craggy rockwork and palm blades. The sides carved with various floral sprays repeated on the sides of the hexagonal box above the foot, the interior and recessed base lacquered black. Provenance: From the personal estate of James H. Kelley, USA. Acquired between 1960 and 1974, and thence by descent within the family. Condition: Very good condition with old wear, warping, expected age cracks, minimal losses, small old touchups to corners. The lacquer with a distinct, grain-like patina in some areas. Weight: 357.7 g Dimensions: Width 21 cm, Height 8 cm Expert's note: While lychees were a common motif in Qing dynasty cinnabar lacquer wares, they are only rarely found during the Ming era. The subject of a scholar resting under a lychee tree seems to be quite unique overall. The manner in which the large lychee fruit are carved here compares quite well to a set of Weiqi boxes from the late 16th century, sold at Bonhams London on 5 November 2020, in Fine Chinese Art, lot 102, sold for GBP 150,062 (EUR 174,928). With a fitted cloth box. (2) Auction result comparison: Compare a related cinnabar lacquer square tray, also dated late 15th-16th century, with a similar depiction of a scholar with boy attendants, and carved with similar floral sprays, at Christie's New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 14 September 2018, lot 1222, sold for USD 18,750. 明代剔紅開光《樹下人物》蓋盒 中國, 十五世紀末至十六世紀。盒平蓋，蓋面開光，錦地上精雕細刻文人手持扇子坐在樹下的圓凳上，身旁兩側是兩位侍從，周圍環繞假山、芭蕉樹。六邊形盒子的側面雕刻石榴花葉紋，層次豐富，增強了立體感，漆層肥厚，刀工圓熟。盒內和底足内髹黑漆。 來源：美國James H. Kelley私人收藏，購於1960 至1974年間，至此保存在同一家族至今。 品相：品相極好，舊時磨損，翹曲、預期的老化裂紋、極小的缺損、邊角上有小舊修補。漆器在某些區域具有明顯的包漿。 重量：357.7 克 尺寸：寬21 厘米, 高8 厘米 專家注釋：雖然荔枝是清代剔紅漆器上經常出現的圖案，但在明代卻很少見。 文人在荔枝樹下歇息的題材，似乎頗為獨特。 這裡雕刻的荔枝果實的方式與16世紀後期的一套圍棋盒非常相似，見倫敦邦翰思2020年11月 5日 Fine Chinese Art, lot 102, 售價GBP 150,062 (EUR 174,928)。 一個相配的布面盒子。(2) 拍賣結果比較：一件同樣為十五世紀末至十六世紀的剔紅方漆盒，相近的文人及其侍童紋樣以及相似花樣卷草紋見紐約佳士得 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2018年9月14日 lot 1222, 售價USD 18,750。