A Remarkable Rarity | The Story of a £143,000 Dragon Box

EXPLORE DEPARTMENT     REQUEST A VALUATION     CONTACT A SPECIALIST

The 49cm wide casket, that would have been used to store precious objects, is made almost exclusively of zitan, a purplish-black, fine-grained timber (so dense that it sinks in water), that was the preferred wood of the imperial workshops. Suitable for fine and intricate carving, in this case the box is adorned with the powerful dynastic images of the five-clawed dragon amidst clouds (symbol of the emperor) and phoenixes (the empress).

^{A Chinese zitan wood box and cover (£143,000)}

By the early Qing period, zitan had become a very expensive commodity (many of the native species had been exhausted during the Ming dynasty) and its use was carefully controlled. When this box was made by master Chinese carpenters in the 18th or early 19th century, it would have been extraordinarily expensive. It remains so today. The box, that came for sale from a private seller who inherited it from grandparents who lived in Bullwood Hall, Hockley, Essex between 1930-1950.

^{A Chinese zitan wood box and cover (£143,000)}

“Zitan is China’s most revered wood and this dragon chest was superbly carved suggesting it was made in the imperial workshops, perhaps in the reign of the emperor Qianlong. It was not in perfect condition – it had several cracks – but buyers agreed it was another special discovery by our team.”       

- Yexue Li Head of Asian Art.

Thinking of selling? Contact our specialists for a free auction valuation and sales advice.

CONTACT SPECIALIST