RARE CINNABAR LACQUER CONJOINED BOX WITH COVER
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
清乾隆 剔紅夔龍蟬紋雙緣寶盒of two fused-globular form supported on two flared feet, sides of the cover intricately carved with stylised kui dragons amongst archaic scrolling motifs reserved on a diaper ground, the box decorated with a band of cicadas, the interior and base lacquered in black 
24.6cm wide; 843g 
From the collection of Commander Malcolm Stuart Leslie Burnett (1904-1984), Aberdeen. Stationed in Asia circa 1920s-1940s when serving in the Royal Navy working for the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). Thence by direct descent. 
Two comparable carved-polychrome lacquer boxes in the shape of conjoined spheres, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, with less distinctive designs of the feet, and further gilt-decorated in the interiors, were in the Qing Court collection, and now in the Palace Museum, Taipei, museum nos. Guqi 故漆93 and Guqi 故漆94; Comparable designs of the archaic kui dragons and especially the band of cicadas can be seen on the cinnabar lacquer archaic-hu-form box and cover, dated to the mid-Qing dynasty, is in the Palace Museum, Beijing, museum no. Gu 故110779.