A SMALL CARVED🐻 CINNABAR LACQUER 'SCHOLAR' CIRCULAR BOX ANꩲD COVER

XUANDE MARK AND PERIOD

明宣德 剔紅松下觀鶴圖小蓋盒 《大明宣德年製》款



the cover carved in high relief with a scholar seated on a rock in a balustraded garden, the right hand holding a brush and poised over the inkstone, the left hand holding an unfurled scroll, the gaze directed toward a nearby attendant and a crane flying overhead, a second attendant approaching from the pavilion carrying a stack of books with rocks, shrubs and a tall pine tree all around, the ground and sky textured with very fine diaper patterns, the sides of the box and cover carved in high relief with foliate peony ban🔴ds against an ocher ground, the interiors and base lacquered black, one side of the base with an incised and gilt six-character mark in a vertical line (2) 

Diameter 3¼ in., 8.2 cm