a-chinese-red-lacquer-cinnabar-covered-urn-lamp
Lot 113
A Chinese Red Lacquer Cinnabar Covered Urn Lamp
Lot Details & Additional Photographs
Early 20th century, very finely carved lacquer, each central panel with scenes of different animals in detailed landscape in various levels of relief, the foot, neck, and cover have pairs of peaches, fruit, butterflies, and flora, a ruyi finial tops the cover, the urn rests on a gilt platform, a light raised above with red silk lamp, carved red lacquer cinnabar finial with flowers and bamboo.

HOA 31 in.; Urn only 12 1/2 in.

From the Collection of the late Sterling Boyd, Raleigh, North Carolina
Sterling Boyd was a consummate collector and Southern gentleman. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, he studied art history at Sewanee: The University of the South, Oberlin College, and received his doctorate from Princeton University. He shared his enthusiasm for the fine arts through positions at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond and the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. Boyd also taught and mentored future art historians at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and later headed the art department at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Following his academic and museum careers, Sterling Boyd channeled his talents for interior design and decoration. His Raleigh apartment was a cabinet of curiosities, each item carefully collected from his world travels and perfectly placed in his jewel box of a home.

Some minor surface wear; some cracking and loss to lacquer around rim and to rim edge of cover; pink putty remains at corners of rim; base of lamp with some wear.