LIAO-SONG DYNASTY, 10TH-13TH CENTURY

Paired birds, particularly ducks, was a popular subject in the decorative arts of the Tang and Song dynasties and can be seen on ceramics, silver and textiles. It is rare, however, for their necks of the ducks to be entwined, as seen on the cover of the present box. A similar depiction of ducks with entwined necks can be found carved on the cover of a Yue celadon box from the collection of Robert E. Barron III, M.D, sold at Christie’s New York, 30 March 2005, lot 265. See, also a Yue celadon 'mandarin ducks' box and cover with entwined birds on the finely molded cover sold in The Classic Age of Chinese Ceramics: The Linyushanren Collection, Part II: Christie's New York, 15 September 2016, lot 701.