QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

Details

A VERY RARE PAIR OF CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'PHOENIX’ CIRCULAR BOXES AND COVERS
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
Each cover is decorated on top with a stylised phoenix amidst leafy peonies, all enclosed by an outer band of scrolling peony blossoms, each box is further decorated on the sides with similar peony scrolls. The interiors of both boxes and covers are decorated with two archaistic phoenixes surrounding a shou (longevity) character. The bases are incised with apocryphal four-character marks reading Jingtai nian zhi.
5 1/8 in. (13 cm.) diam.

Provenance

Bluett & Sons, London, 11 February 1964 (Fig. 1)
The Reginald and Lena Palmer Collection, no. (X)95

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Marco Almeida (安偉達) SVP, Senior International Specialist, Head of Department & Head of Private Sales

malmeida@christies.com +852 2978 6735

Lot Essay

It is rare to find a cloisonné enamel box and cover such as the present pair, where both exterior and interior are carefully decorated with equal level of attention, requiring extensive labour and time. There are only a handful of examples of cloisonné enamel circular boxes and covers from the Qianlong period, and it is rare to find a pair of the size of present lot and with the archaistic phoenix as a motif. The combination of phoenix and peony symbolises prosperity, bright future and happiness. With the shou character motif on the interiors for the wish of longevity, it is possible that the present pair of boxes was made to commemorate an imperial birthday.

Compare to a cloisonné enamel basin of similar design in the collection of Palace Museum, Beijing, see collection no. GU00119034 (Fig. 2) on the digital archive.

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