17TH-18TH CENTURY

Jiang Qianli, who specialized in inlaid lacquer, has traditionally been dated to the late Ming period, but more recently is thought to have worked in the Kangxi period. However, inlaid lacquer wares made in his style and bearing his name continued to be made throughout the Qing dynasty,
Compare the box of this shape and slightly larger size (7.15 cm.), also with Qianli seal mark, illustrated by G. Tsang and H. Moss, Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Hong Kong, 1986, pp. 168-69, no. 144. The mark on the latter box is in a circle rather than a double square as on the present box, and the shape of the foot is different, more lobed than that of the present box. The decoration on the two boxes is very similar and, as with the present box and cover, the background inlay to the gold flowers on each 'petal' is either in green, reddish-purple or blue shell and of three different patterns, creating a subtle change in color or tone.