QIANLONG FOUR-CHARACTER MARK CAST IN RELIEF WITHIN A SQUARE AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

This small cloisonné enamel hu appears to be related to three cloisonné zun that have the same Qianlong four-character mark cast in relief and have archaistic decoration that includes golden-olive taotie masks, as well as subsidiary taotie masks in blue. See The Complete Treasures of the Palace Museum - 43 - Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, p. 119, no. 115; H. Brinker and A. Lutz, Chinese Cloisonné: The Pierre Uldry Collection, The Asia Society Galleries, New York, 1989, no. 268; and the Alfred Morrison Collection, Fonthill House, sold by order of the Lord Margadale of Islay, D.L., Christie's, London, 9 November 2004, lot 45.
The decoration and shapes of all of these vessels was inspired by ancient bronzes, and reflect the fashion for archaism during the Qianlong reign. They also share a high quality of craftsmanship that seems to apply to all Qianlong cloisonné enamel vessels bearing the same cast mark.