A RARE CHAMPLEV ENAMEL BOX AND COVER

WANLI SIX-CHARACTER INCISED MARK WITH THE CYCLICAL DATE, JIA YIN, CORRESPONDING TO A.D. 1614, AND OF THE PERIOD

Details

A RARE CHAMPLEV ENAMEL BOX AND COVER
Wanli Six-Character Incised Mark with the Cyclical Date, Jia Yin, Corresponding to A.D. 1614, and of the Period
Of circular form, the top decorated with two three-clawed dragons leaping amidst clouds on either side of a lotus blossom, above a narrow band of blue clouds on the sides and two dragons striding after lotus blossoms on the sides of the box, all in translucent enamel of blue, amber, pink and mauve tone reserved on a leaf-green ground, the mark incised in a circle on the base
4.5/8in. (11.7cm.) diam.

Literature

The Minor Arts of China, III, Spink & Son, London, 1987, no. 91

Lot Essay

A related champlev enamel box bearing the same cyclical date and of the same size, but decorated with lotus scroll, is illustrated by Soame Jenyns, 'The Problem of Chinese Cloisonn Enamels', T.O.C.S., 1949-50, vol. 25, pl. 19, fig. 3, where the author describes this piece as 'unique in carrying a cyclical year mark.'