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Lot Essay
'Phoenix' rhyton vases are very rare and no other example of such quality appears to be published.
The closest gilt-bronze and cloisonné enamel phoenix-form vessel is a phoenix standing on wheels with a zun rising from its back and a four-character Qianlong mark in a panel on the breast, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Metal-Bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong 2002, p.126, pl.122.
Another phoenix and zun-form vessel from the 18th century is illustrated in Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, National Palace Museum, Taipei 1999, p.122, pl.44.
None of these similar examples depicts a seated phoenix and none of them is decorated with such refine shaded peonies.
Comparable peonies of such nice execution can se been on a triple vase from the 18th century, illustrated in C. Brown, Chinese Cloisonné - The Clague Collection, Phoenix Art Museum 1980, pp.114-115, pl.50 ; and also on a gourd-vase from the same period, illustrated in H. Brinker and A. Lutz, Chinesisches Cloisonné - Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Museum Rietberg, Zurich 1985, pl.234.
Made of another media, see also a white jade vase carved as a mythical beast crouching on two legs and supporting a rhyton vase, sold in our London Rooms, 7 November 2006, lot 26.
The closest gilt-bronze and cloisonné enamel phoenix-form vessel is a phoenix standing on wheels with a zun rising from its back and a four-character Qianlong mark in a panel on the breast, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Metal-Bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong 2002, p.126, pl.122.
Another phoenix and zun-form vessel from the 18th century is illustrated in Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, National Palace Museum, Taipei 1999, p.122, pl.44.
None of these similar examples depicts a seated phoenix and none of them is decorated with such refine shaded peonies.
Comparable peonies of such nice execution can se been on a triple vase from the 18th century, illustrated in C. Brown, Chinese Cloisonné - The Clague Collection, Phoenix Art Museum 1980, pp.114-115, pl.50 ; and also on a gourd-vase from the same period, illustrated in H. Brinker and A. Lutz, Chinesisches Cloisonné - Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Museum Rietberg, Zurich 1985, pl.234.
Made of another media, see also a white jade vase carved as a mythical beast crouching on two legs and supporting a rhyton vase, sold in our London Rooms, 7 November 2006, lot 26.