Chinese Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Plate - Xuande Brand - Qing Period

Carved cinnabar lacquer plate, 18 cm in diameter, traditional Chinese tihong technique. Main face with relief carved scene depicting a Chinese architectural landscape with pagodas, figures, gardens, trees and a bridge. The very pronounced relief indicates many layers of red lacquer superimposed according to the ancestral technique. The reverse has a dense floral decoration with peonies and chrysanthemums, bordered by geometric patterns. In the center, golden mark "大明宣德年製" (Da Ming Xuande nian zhi) meaning "Made during the Xuande years of the Ming Dynasty", a reference to the reign of Emperor Xuande (1425-1435). Qing period (18th-19th century). China, probably imperial workshops in Beijing or Jiangnan region specializing in carved lacquer. The use of the Xuande mark was common during the Qing period to honor this prestigious artistic period. A complex technique requiring several months of work, with dozens of layers of red lacquer superimposed, drying between each layer, and then meticulous carving of the decoration. Excellent condition. A collector's item representative of traditional Chinese decorative art.