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Lot Essay
Lighting in the Forbidden City was predominantly comprised of portable lanterns which had to be sufficiently protected from draughts and winds so they could also be used outside.
A number of gilt-bronze lanterns remain in situ in the Palace Museum, Beijing, although none of this unusual form appear to be published and most of the remaining examples in the Palace Museum appear to be larger laterns such as the zitan examples illustrated by Hu Desheng, A Treasury of Ming and Qing Dynasty Palace Furniture, Vol. 1, Beijing 2007, no. 412 and 413.
Compare also to two pairs of cloisonné enamel lanterns sold at Christie's Hong Kong, the first 27 November 2007, lot 1830; the other 29 April 2002, lot 582.
A number of gilt-bronze lanterns remain in situ in the Palace Museum, Beijing, although none of this unusual form appear to be published and most of the remaining examples in the Palace Museum appear to be larger laterns such as the zitan examples illustrated by Hu Desheng, A Treasury of Ming and Qing Dynasty Palace Furniture, Vol. 1, Beijing 2007, no. 412 and 413.
Compare also to two pairs of cloisonné enamel lanterns sold at Christie's Hong Kong, the first 27 November 2007, lot 1830; the other 29 April 2002, lot 582.