An unusual archaistic gilt and cloisonné enamel cosmetic box and cover Incised four-character Qianlong mark and additional character and of the period
122
Various Owners
An unusual archaistic gilt and cloisonné enamel cosmetic box and cover
Incised Qianlong four-character mark and additional character and of the period
The circular domed box and cover colourfully decorated with an archaic design forming four taotie masks on the cover and similarly on the box, reserved on a blue ground, the interior and base gilt.
6.5cm (2½in) diam. (2).
Sold for £15,600 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • The Qianlong Emperor advocated the return to the values and morals of archaic times as well as drawing artistic inspiration from these periods. This was reflected in the use of archaic forms and designs by craftsmen, as is represented in the taotie mask decoration on the present cloisonné enamel box and cover. Related cloisonné enamelled vessels, Qianlong mark and period, with archaistic taotie mask decoration, are in the collections of the Palace Museum, Beijing and the National Palace Museum, Taipei: see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Metal-Bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, pl.118, and Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, Taipei, 1999, pls.57-59.

Category: Asian Art / Chinese Works of Art

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