Lot Essay
Although it is unlikely that this vase would have arrived in Europe before the 19th Century, since cloisonne enamel was never a significant part of any published cargo of Chinese export art, the way that this piece was adorned with ormolu mounts when it arrived is very much in keeping with an 18th Century approach. Since vases of this kind were purely seen as decorative items, they were cheerfully enhanced on many occasions with gilt-bronze mounts; sometimes the vases were cut to size, either to fit elaborate available mounts, or to enhance the proportion of the finished object. It seemed to have been a particularly French craftsman's tradition, to adapt ruthlessly Chinese porcelain and lacquer (as well as that emanating from other Asian sources), but cutting it to size, attaching metal mounts, and on occasion entirely recreating works of art using disassembled ingredients purchased from the cargo of an East Indiaman.