Lot Essay
The Fonthill Heirlooms Collection was formed made by Alfred Morrison during the 19th Century. It included a large quantity of porcelain purchased from Lord Loch of Drylaw, which he brought back from Beijing after the sacking of Yuanmingyuan in 1860.
Cloisonne enamel furniture is rare. Stools of this exceptionally large size exist rarely even in wood. A single stool, 70cm. square, is illustrated in The Dr. S.Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture, Catalogue, no.53. A cloisonne enamel low table from the 17th Century, similarly decorated but with an additional barbed dragon medallion to the top surrounded by pairs of dragon panels is illustrated in Chinese Cloisonne: The Pierre Uldry Collection, fig. 182; for another table on curved legs, cf. idem., fig.145
Cloisonne enamel furniture is rare. Stools of this exceptionally large size exist rarely even in wood. A single stool, 70cm. square, is illustrated in The Dr. S.Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture, Catalogue, no.53. A cloisonne enamel low table from the 17th Century, similarly decorated but with an additional barbed dragon medallion to the top surrounded by pairs of dragon panels is illustrated in Chinese Cloisonne: The Pierre Uldry Collection, fig. 182; for another table on curved legs, cf. idem., fig.145