CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, MARQUE A QUATRE CARACTERES EN CACHET EN BLEU DANS UN DOUBLE CARRE ET EPOQUE QIANLONG (1736-1795)

The box is rendered with great precision and much attention has been paid to the details of decoration including the interior. The painting style and composition of this box suggest that the artist was trained in the Western manner. The subject embodies Qianlong's fascination with European subjects as shown in numerous enamelled metalwares and porcelain pieces with similar romanticized vignettes of ladies and children. Compare this box and cover with the examples illustrated in Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 206, a champlevé enamel cup enclosing painted enamel vignettes of ladies, and pl. 208, a box with six scenes of ladies and children. Also compare to a similar square box and cover sold in Christie's London, King Street, 10 May 2011, lot 166.