A MAGNIFICENT IMPERIAL EMBELLISHED CLOISONNE ENAMEL BUTTER-TEA JAR, COVER AND STAND

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A MAGNIFICENT IMPERIAL EMBELLISHED CLOISONNE ENAMEL BUTTER-TEA JAR, COVER AND STAND
QIANLONG INCISED SIX-CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

The bowl-shaped vessel strongly cast and finely enamelled with numerous colourful exotic blooms borne on convoluted scrolling stems, all between gilt-bronze borders cast in high relief with floral scrolls and inset with coral, lapis-lazuli and jade embellishments, flanked by a pair of ornate loop handles and raised on a spreading foot enamelled with further floral scrolls; the domed cover similarly decorated in cloisonne enamel and with inset ornaments, surmounted by an elaborate tiered finial comprised of lotus lappets and flaming pearls, all fitted into the original stand cast with lotus scrolls along the shaped apron and raised on six cabriole legs
31 1/2 in. (80 cm.) overall height

Lot Essay

A near identical jar with the addition of Beijing enamel plaques but lacking its original stand, is in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, illustrated in Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, 1999, pl. 36.

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