Description
of eight lobed compressed form, a central medallion with star shape framed by ruyi heads, each lobe with lotus flower heads in yellow, rose and blue, framed by upright green leaves, all on a lavender ground, the reverse with four character mark of Qianlong in blue enamel on a white ground within a double square on a yellow ground with further lotus, the base similarly decorated with lotus, the interior with a light blue enamel, on a gilt copper ground (2)
Dimensions
12cm long, 3.5cm high
Footnote
Note: Canton enamel derives its name from the town located on the Pearl River, which was the hub of the China Trade throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The technique was adopted by the Chinese from the French missionaries who brought the enamels over from Limoges, where such enamelled wares had been produced since the fifteenth century. The pink colour in particular was a popular addition to the Chinese palette - and after its introduction, was the principal hue in most designs. Twice fired, most designs have a white ground on copper, whereupon further designs of figures, flowers or landscapes is applied, before the final firing secures them into place. The medium allowed for more controlled designs as opposed to porcelain, some of the enamel pieces being extremely fine and most likely produced in the Imperial workshops in Beijing. The enamellers, already most adept with working on porcelain and cloisonné produced stunning pieces, like this pair of floriform lotus boxes. The Qianlong mark gives the Imperial seal of approval, indicating that perhaps these were from the Imperial workshops. A similar box, from the collection of George Taber, sold by Bonhams in San Francisco on 19th June 2012, lot 6165, has a slightly different design of peonies, suggests that a group of boxes may have been produced, representing each of the most popular Chinese flowers. The lotus with tulip-like pointy leaves, is a sacred Buddhist symbol of purity and perfection. It rises pristine from the muddy depths of the pond, the petals representing the spokes of the perpetual cycle of existence. It is also used as a symbol of the summer and fruitfulness, unusually bearing ripe fruit when it flowers.