China, 1661-1722. Each bowl with deep rounded sides supported on a short foot and rising to an everted rim, one bowl lacquered black and the other a reddish dark-brown, each meticulously inlaid in mother-of-pearl with the same continuous scene depicting a scholar and two attendants in a garden with trees and rockwork, framed by floral geometric bands encircling the rim and foot. The interior and the foot rim of each bowl is lined with silvered metal. (2)

Provenance: From a German private collection.
Condition: Overall good condition commensurate with age, with some wear, minor losses to the inlays, expected age cracks, flaking and minor losses to lacquer, few tiny chips, small dents.

Weight: 208.5 g and 213.2 g
Dimensions: Diameter 15 cm and 15.1 cm

Literature comparison:
A bowl of similar shape and size decorated with a related design of figures in landscape, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Zhongguo qiqi quanji, vol. 6, Fujian, 1993, pl. 168. Compare a closely related inlaid lacquer bowl, dated 17th century, at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 25 April 2004, lot 326.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's London, 5 November 2013, lot 101
Price: GBP 2,750 or approx. EUR 4,800 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of mother-of-pearl-inlaid black lacquer bowls, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and motif. Note the size (17 cm).