19TH CENTURY

The hanging scroll The Qianlong Emperor Viewing Paintings painted by Giuseppe Castiglione, dating to 1738-1768, currently in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and illustrated by E. Rawski and J. Rawson, China: The Three Emperors, 1662-1795, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2005, p. 282, pl. 194, shows the Qianlong Emperor seated beside a large recessed-leg table set with a variety of precious objects raised on stands. A large alms bowl, possibly in bronze, is shown displayed on a circular stand with elegant cabriole legs and circular base stretcher similar to the present example.