Lot 213 , An important pair of Chinese carved zitan and silver wire inlaid ‘cloud and dragon’ curio cabinets and stands, duobaoge, probably Imperial, late Qing dynasty

An important pair of Chinese carved zitan and silver wire inlaid ‘cloud and dragon’ curio cabinets and stands, duobaoge, probably Imperial, late Qing dynasty, the top, front and side panels of each cabinet carved in high relief with dragons chasing 'flaming pearls' amongst clouds, within borders inlaid in fine silver wire with lotus flowers, foliate scrolls and keywork, the stepped upper section fitted with two drawers above a pair of panelled doors, the gilt bronze lock plate and hinges engraved with dragons, enclosing a plain interior, above a third long drawer, each on an openwork stand with matching fine silver wire inlay, the frieze carved with bats amid clouds the downswept apron elaborately carved and pierced with dragons chasing a flaming pearl with flared feet, 60cm high, 38cm wide, minor old chip losses

It is likely that this pair of cabinets were made for Imperial use as zitan (red sandalwood) was the favoured timber of the craftsmen in the Imperial workshops in which similar ‘dragon’ cabinets were made in the 18th and 19th century. Compare a very similar ‘cloud and dragon’ curio cabinet with silver wire inlay and pierced ‘dragon’ stand, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, inventory no. Gòu zá 000019N000000000.

A similar shape carved zitan dragon cabinet with silver wire inlay was sold by Bonhams, Hong Kong, 27 May 2012, lot 323.

Provenance - purchased from Sotheby’s, London, May 10 and 13, 1988, Chinese Export Porcelain and Decorative Arts sale, Lot 371, the cabinet with original Sotheby’s lot labels (see photo of catalogue entry online)
£10,000-15,000

Condition:
The first cabinet has a small chip loss to the right horn of the Dragon on the top panel and a slight area of shrinkage to the panel where it fits the border, a small section of wire inlay has sprung out on the right hand side. The second cabinet has a chip loss to the right horn of the Dragon on the top panel and some white corrosion to the gilt bronze lock plate and hinges. Both stands have been re-glued at the joints and to a foot. The first stand has some splits to the top and some gaps to the mitre joints on the corners. The second stand has a few occasional splits and a few small areas of the silver wire inlay is missing, it has later wooden blocks glued in position to the under side. Both cabinets in remarkably good condition as zitan is prone to splitting.

Sold for £14,000