19TH CENTURY

Details

AN UNUSUAL PAIR OF CLOISONNE ENAMEL SQUARE ICE CHESTS AND STANDS
19TH CENTURY
Each wood lined and with tapering sides decorated with three registers separated by two narrow raised bands of foliate scroll reserved on a red ground, the upper register decorated with composite foliate scroll, the middle with two phoenixes flanking a phoenix suspending ribbon-tied twin fish amidst foliate scroll and the bottom register with lotus scroll incorporating red bats suspending ribbon-tied wan emblems, with paired carrying handles at either end set atop lion-mask knocking plates, each side of the two-part top pierced with two cash-form apertures surrounded by further lotus scroll, raised on a similarly decorated cloisonné enamel stand
Ice chests 26 in. (66 cm.) square x 17½ in. (44.5 cm.) high; stands 25 in. (63.5 cm.) square x 15 in. (38 cm.) high; 32½ in. (82.5 cm.) high overall (2)

Lot Essay

Large ice chests of this type were used in the Palace during the hot summer months. They were filled with ice and placed in certain rooms used by the Imperial family. The ice was used to cool drinks, fruit and sweet snacks, as well as the surrounding area, and were sometimes placed directly on the floor under tables to cool both the food and those seated at the table. Records show that by the 18th century ice chests destined for the apartments of those other than the emperor were made of plain bronze lined with pewter. It has been suggested that cloisonné examples would have been intended for the emperor's apartments. For one of a pair of cloisonné ice chests of similar shape with similar tops and inscribed with a Qianlong mark, see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 43 - Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, p. 134, no. 129.

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