A rare antique Chinese lacquer charger, dating back to the 14th century, has sold for a record-breaking £210,540 in an auction held by Cotswold auctioneers, Kinghams. The circular charger, measuring 30cm in diameter, is made of red lacquer and depicts exotic birds swooping in flight amongst an extensive array of petals and foliage in high relief.
Lacquer is a resin or sap found in a particular family of trees in southern China. When exposed to oxygen, it hardens to form an extremely hard-wearing natural ‘plastic’. The distinctive red colour of the charger is achieved by the use of toxic powdered mercury sulphide as the predominant colourant. Carved lacquer is a distinctive and time-consuming craft that has been used in China for over 3,000 years, with thick carved coatings developed in the 12th century.
The luxury product of the master craftsman, the lacquer is built up in many layers, typically on a wooden base. Boxes, trays, vases, and even furniture are made in this highly prized technique. In the Yuan Dynasty, the artistic quality of carving was at its peak. Pieces are rarely signed, as in the case of this charger, so attribution to the known masters of the period, Yang Mao and Zhang Cheng, both from Jiaxing, is a complex process.
The charger sold at Kinghams is comparable to similar examples in prominent museums such as The Met. It was consigned by an anonymous vendor and as such, items rarely appear at auction. It attracted extensive pre-sale interest from connoisseurs across the globe. On the day of the auction, a frenzied bidding battle ensued, whittling down to two determined bidders on the phone battling to secure it. The gavel eventually went down to a UK-based specialist for the record total sum of £210,540.
