QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

The form of the present lot may have been inspired by the archaic bronze vessels of the Six Dynasties and Han Dynasty, which included chariot fittings, weights and finials and often featured zoomorphic designs. This tradition continued into the 18th century, as evidenced by a number of cloisonné enamel animal-form vessels found in the Palace Museum, Beijing. Compare to a very similar crouching tiger cloisonné enamel water pot with Qianlong four-character mark and of the period, formerly in the collection of General Charles George Gordon, sold at Christie’s London, 5 December 1994, lot 259, and then at Sotheby’s London, 9 November 2011, lot 400.