Master Art

Chinese Market


A rare Chinese cloisonné enamel jardinière decorated with two rows of rectangular panels separated by raised bands of twisted-rope design, each panel with three flower heads variously enamelled in blue, yellow and white borne on scrolling tendrils reserved on a brown ground, the rim chased with scrolling tendrils, supported by three gilt kneeling boys each dressed in floral robes encircled by billowing ribbons.

The interesting shape and unusual colours are imitating a wooden bucket. This a very nice eighteenth century example of this type, the high quality evident in the fine moulding of the figures serving as feet.

References: Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Enamels 4, Cloisonné in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Beijing, 2011, plate 6, a similar jardinière in the Palace Museum, Beijing; Colorful, Elegant, and Exquisite: A Special Exhibition of Imperial Enamel Ware from Mr. Robert Chang's Collection, Suzhou, 2007, p84-85, a similar example.