QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

Details

A PAIR OF LARGE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL GU-FORM VASES
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
Each central section is decorated with a gilt-bronze shou (longevity) medallion surrounded by lotus scroll, and the flaring neck and foot are each decorated with stiff leaves separated by further gilt-bronze shou medallions. Each vase is divided by vertical flanges and the interior mouth rim is decorated with further lotus scroll.
17 ¾ in. (45 cm.) high, silver-inlaid zitan stands

Provenance

Roger Keverne, London, 2011.
The Lenora and Walter F. Brown Collection, San Antonio, Texas.

Literature

Roger Keverne, Fine and Rare Chinese Works of Art and Ceramics - Winter Exhibition, London, 2011, p. 78, no. 56.

Exhibited

London, Roger Keverne, Fine and Rare Chinese Works of Art and Ceramics - Winter Exhibition, 2011.
On loan, San Antonio Museum of Art.

Brought to you by

Olivia Hamilton

asianartny@christies.com 212-636-2180

Lot Essay

This pair of vases illustrates the highest quality of craftmanship found on archaistic cloisonné vessels made during the Qianlong period. The inset shou medallions are a rare feature, however related insets can be found on a Qianlong-period cloisonné enamel ding-form vessel and cover in the Musée des Arts décoratifs, Paris, with inset medallions decorated with spirals instead of shou characters, illustrated by B. Quette, ed. in Cloisonné. Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, New York, 2011, p. 262, no. 76. The well-cast flanges are also unusual and seem to be more commonly found on gu-form vases of square section, where they more easily adapt to the corners of the shape; see a pair of fanggu-form vases of comparable size to the present vases sold at Christie’s New York, 19 March 2008, lot 356.

More from Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art

View All