A very rare Imperial champlevé enamel circular box and cover, China, Wanli cyclical Jiayin eightcharacter mark, corresponding to a.d. 1614, and of the period. Photo Nagel

Of circular form, the top decorated with two fiveclawed dragons circling a central lotus blossom amidst clouds and flames on a blue ground, above a narrow band of blue clouds on the sides and two dragons striding after lotus blooms on the sides of the box, all in translucent enamels of blue, amber, pink and mauve tones reserved on a mottled blue ground, the cyclical reign mark incised in a circle on the base. Very slightly chipped, minor filled losses to enamels. D. 11,9 cm - Estimate 40 000/60 000 €

Literature: The Minor Arts of China, III, Spink & Son, London, 1987, no. 91

A related champlevé enamel box bearing the same cyclical date and of the same size, but decorated with lotus scroll, is illustrated by S.
Jenyns, ‘The Problem of Chinese Cloisonné Enamels’, T.O.C.S., 1949-50, vol. 25, pl. 19, fig. 3, where the author describes the piece in question as ‘unique in carrying a cyclical year mark.

Nagel. "Asian Art". 2012/11/02 http://www.auction.de/