RARE VERSEUSE COUVERTE EN BRONZE DORE ET EMAUX CLOISONNES
CHINE, DYNASTIE MING, DEUXIEME MOITIE DU XVIEME SIECLE

De forme balustre, la panse ornée en émaux vifs sur fond turquoise des 'Objets Précieux' et de huit chimères jaunes, rouges ou bleues, jouant quatre à quatre avec une perle à laquelle sont noués des rubans, le pied et l'épaulement rehaussés de frises de pétales, le bec et le col agrémentés de marguerites, l'anse terminée en forme de ruyi et décorée de nuages et lotus, le couvercle en forme de trompette inversée ornée de rinceaux feuillagés et lotus, la prise en bronze doré, marque à quatre caractères Jingtai rapportée à la base ; petits éclats
Hauteur: 23,5 cm. (9¼ in.) - Estimé : 15,000 - 20,000 Euros

Provenance : Collection T. B. Kitson
Sotheby's & Co. London, The T.B. Kitson Collection - Catalogue of the Well Known Collection of Important Jade Carvings and Fine Cloisonné and Amber - Part II, 21 February 1961, lot 271
Christie's New York, 1 December 1983, lot 772.
Bluett & Sons Ltd., London, 16 December 1983.

Note : The decoration of the current vessel with Buddhist lions is particularly charming.
Although the lion is not native to China, its image has long been important to the repertoire of Chinese iconography. Lions are often seen in stone statuary, thus symbolising protection and law, and from the Tang dynasty, appeared on decorative arts. Buddhist lions playing with a brocade ball, which became the most popular form of imagery for the lion, appear later and might relate to the tradition of lion cubs emerging from balls.
Compare the current ewer with an almost identical one formely in the Kitson Collection and then in the Pierre Uldry Collection, illustrated in H. Brinker and A. Lutz, Chinesisches Cloisonné - Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry Museum Rietberg, Zurich 1985, pl.98.
For an identical decoration see the dish illustrated in C. Brown, Chinese Cloisonné - The Clague Collection, Phoenix Art Museum, 1980, pp.22-23, pl.3.
On both vessels, the lions represented are exactly the same, they are playing with brocaded balls surrounded by the same background filled with spirals and the 'Precious Things'.
For similar ewers, although decorated with lotuses, see H. Brinker and A. Lutz, Op. Cit., pl.99 ; and nternational Exhibition of Chinese Art, The Royal Academy of Art, London 1935-36, p.170, pl.2013.

RARE PAIRE DE DIFFUSEURS DE PARFUM IMPERIAUX EN BRONZE DORE ET EMAUX CLOISONNES
CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, EPOQUE QIANLONG (1736-1795)

En forme de pagodes, la base hexagonale reposant sur un socle à décor de pétales, repris sur la corniche, la balustrade ornée de svastikas bleues, l'intérieur agrémenté de volutes et fleurs, la colonne à décor entièrement ajouré de nuages polychromes dans des tons pastels et rehaussée d'un grand dragon en cuivre doré et repoussé, le corps enroulé sur toute la hauteur du cylindre, pourchassant la perle sacrée, la partie supérieure composée d'une corniche identique à la balustrade de la base, d'une double toiture séparée par une frise de carrés blancs, le toit du haut agrémenté de clochettes et terminé par une prise en bronze doré et ajouré, formée d'un dragon lové ; manques et restaurations
Hauteur: 107,5 cm. (42 3/8 in.) (2) - Estimé : 120,000 - 180,000 Euros

Provenance : Spink & Son Ltd., The Grosvenor House Antique Fair, 1985.
(Invoice dated from 21 June 1985).

Note : Incense burners of this form were intended as part of the furnishing in the throne room. Several examples of similar pagodas in cloisonné enamel or entirely in bronze are illustrated in the Catalogue, The Forbidden City, Palace Museum, Beijing 1993: pl.24 depicts a pagoda with cloisonné and champlevé enamel decoration with a dragon climbing up the column; pl.52, with a similar pair in situ flanking the imperial throne in the Palace of Heavenly Purity; pl.85, a smaller cloisonné enamel pair in the main room of the Palace of Concentrated Beauty; and pl.106 with another large pair of bronze and gilt-bronze pagodas on either side of the throne in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Cf. also a very similar cloisonné enamel pagoda parfumier with gilt dragon illustrated in International Exhibition of Chinese Art, The Royal Academy of Art, London 1935-36, p.170, pl.2014; a pair of turquoise-inlaid gilt-bronze incense burners of this form in the Shenyang Museum, one of the pair illustrated by R. Thorp, Son of Heaven: Imperial Arts of China, Seattle 1988, no.38; a pair from the Palace of Harbouring Grace, illustrated by Holdsworth and Courtauld, The Forbidden City: The Great Within, p. 69; and a pair included in the 1996 exhibition at the Musée du Petit Palais, Paris, La Cité Interdite, Paris 1996, and illustrated in the Catalogue, p.164.
A very similar pair was sold in our Hong Kong Rooms, The Imperial Sale, 27 April 1997, lot 89; another single one was also sold in our Hong Kong Rooms, 30 October 2001, lot 621.
See an interesting pair of gilt-bronze and cloisonné enamel pagoda parfumiers with similar 'clouds' patterns but without the gilt dragons sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 25 april 2004, lot 334.

RARE CANARD FORMANT BRULE-PARFUM COUVERT EN BRONZE DORE ET EMAUX CLOISONNES
CHINE, DYNASTIE MING, XVIIEME SIECLE

Reposant sur une base quadrangulaire, cette dernière ornée de lotus sur le dessus et de chrysanthèmes sur les côtés, le canard représenté debout, appuyé sur sa patte droite, la gauche relevée, toutes deux en bronze, les ailes repliées, le plumages aux couleurs chatoyantes rendu de façon réaliste, la queue dressée, la tête légèrement tournée vers la gauche ; petites restaurations
Hauteur: 27,8 cm. (10 7/8 in.), Longueur: 24 cm. (9½ in.) - Estimé : 8,000 - 12,000 Euros

Provenance : Christie's London, 10 December 1984, lot 181.
Spink & Son Ltd., London, 24 January 1985.

Note : Compare this very rare 'duck' censer with an identical pair illustrated in H. Brinker and A. Lutz, Chinesisches Cloisonné - Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Museum Rietberg, Zurich 1985, pl.220. Also from the Pierre Uldry collection is an identical stand illustrated in Op. Cit., pl.219.
See also another pair of duck-form censer identical to the present lot sold at Sotheby's London, 21 June 1983, lot 17.
A 'duck' censer from the first half of the 17th century, without the stand, is illustrated in Sir H. Garner, Chinese and Japanese Cloisonné Enamels, London 1962, pl.58A. The author mentions other Ming ducks 'generally mounted on square or rhomboidal bases (...)'.

RARE ET IMPORTANT VASE 'RHYTON' EN BRONZE DORE ET EMAUX CLOISONNES
CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, EPOQUE QIANLONG (1736-1795)

Le vase de forme évasée, la bordure en bronze doré ciselé de grecques, le corps orné d'élégants branchages feuillagés et pivoines épanouies ou en boutons, aux teintes subtiles contrastant avec le fond turquoise, la partie inférieure prenant naissance sur le dos d'un phénix en repoussé avec lequel le vase se confond, l'animal mythique représenté couché, les pattes repliées, les ailes et la queue déployées de part et d'autre du vase en gracieuses volutes émaillées de bleus divers et rehaussées de gerbes de plumes dorées en relief, la gorge d'un rose pâle subtil, le cou et la tête en bronze doré ciselé de plumes en cascade, l'animal tenant dans son bec un lingzhi formant un anneau ; l'anse manquante
Hauteur: 31,5 cm. (12 3/8 in.) - Estimé : 30,000 - 50,000 Euros

Provenance : Sotheby's London, 29 October 1982, lot 39.
Bluett & Sons Ltd., London, 1982.

Note : 'Phoenix' rhyton vases are very rare and no other example of such quality appears to be published.
The closest gilt-bronze and cloisonné enamel phoenix-form vessel is a phoenix standing on wheels with a zun rising from its back and a four-character Qianlong mark in a panel on the breast, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Metal-Bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong 2002, p.126, pl.122.
Another phoenix and zun-form vessel from the 18th century is illustrated in Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, National Palace Museum, Taipei 1999, p.122, pl.44.
None of these similar examples depicts a seated phoenix and none of them is decorated with such refine shaded peonies.
Comparable peonies of such nice execution can se been on a triple vase from the 18th century, illustrated in C. Brown, Chinese Cloisonné - The Clague Collection, Phoenix Art Museum 1980, pp.114-115, pl.50 ; and also on a gourd-vase from the same period, illustrated in H. Brinker and A. Lutz, Chinesisches Cloisonné - Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Museum Rietberg, Zurich 1985, pl.234.
Made of another media, see also a white jade vase carved as a mythical beast crouching on two legs and supporting a rhyton vase, sold in our London Rooms, 7 November 2006, lot 26.

RARE ET IMPORTANT BRULE-PARFUM COUVERT EN BRONZE DORE ET EMAUX CLOISONNES, DING
CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, EPOQUE QIANLONG (1736-1795)

Reposant sur trois pieds tubulaires, la panse ovoïde rehaussée de clous dorés et ciselés en relief dans la partie supérieure, les anses en forme de 'U' renversé, agrémentées de grecques, le couvercle légèrement bombé terminé par une prise en bronze doré ajouré et ciselé en forme de dragon féroce, le corps enroulé autour de nuages, le décor en émaux cloisonnés composé d'élégantes volutes géométriques bleu nuit disposées sous des formes entrelacées, rayonnantes, de pétales ou de ruyi et alternant avec de délicates pivoines épanouies de couleur rose, mauve et jaune, entourées de volutes feuillagées ; petits éclats
Hauteur: 35,3 cm. (13 7/8 in.) - Estimé : 40,000 - 60,000 Euros

Provenance : Spink & Son Ltd., 12 April 1985, No.146.

Note : This impressive censer represents the apogee of artistic and technical achievement of imperial enamel craftsmanship during the Qianlong reign. Every aspect and execution has been accomplished to the highest standard. The decoration and the choice of colours also reflect the sophistication and confidence among artists to experiment with more unusual designs and colour schemes.
The censer is of ding form, based on the shape of archaic ritual vessels of the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Although the overall outlines of the archaic models were retained, the imperial craftsmen liberally interpreted original decoratif motifs such as the gilt roundels, the leaves and spirals, incorporating them with more unusual geometric designs across the body.
Cloisonné enamel was commissioned and manufactured at the imperial cloisonné workshops under the supervision of the Palace Workshops (Zaoban chu). It not only served as decorative palace furnishing, but also, was used in daily rituals, banquets and imperial ceremonies. In the 27th year of his reign, Qianlong merged the painting studio with the enamel workshop, enabling the painters to use their expertise and skill to engage in the decoration of enamel work. It was during this period that great artistic and technical advances were achieved in the manufacture of cloisonné enamel.
Although no other similar decoration is recorded, we can compare the current piece to the vase pou from the first part of this collection, sold in these Rooms, 13 June 2007, lot 25. Both shapes are based upon archaic ritual vessels and bear the exact same gilt roundels.
See also another ding from the Qianlong period, with different geometric patterns but with similar gilt roundels and gilt 'dragon' finial, illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Enamel Ware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei 1971, pl.20.

RARE ET IMPORTANTE GLACIERE IMPERIALE COUVERTE EN BRONZE DORE ET EMAUX CLOISONNES
CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, EPOQUE QIANLONG (1736-1795)

De forme quadrangulaire, les côtés ornés en émaux colorés et subtils de quatre décors différents: le premier composé d'une rivière, de lotus épanouis, larges feuilles, grues, canards et libellule, le second représentant un large prunus en fleur, des bambous et deux phénix, le troisième orné de branchages de pivoines, de deux oiseaux mauves perchés et rehaussé d'un goulet en bronze doré, le quatrième à décor de grenadier, cailles, hirondelles et sauterelle, la glacière agrémentée de deux frises horizontales en relief, ornées de rinceaux et fleurs dorés sur fond vert, deux des côtés rehaussés de poignées en bronze doré, le couvercle formé de deux parties, l'une d'elles comprenant deux sapèques ajourées laissant passer l'air frais, le décor composé d'un large cerisier en fleur, d'une colline plantée de pivoines et lingzhi et de pies volant dans le ciel, posées sur un rocher ou sur les branches tortueuses de l'arbre, socle en bois ; petit choc et éclats
Dimensions: 39 x 68,6 x 69,2 cm. (27 x 27¼ x 15 3/8 in.) - Estimé : 250,000 - 350,000 Euros

Provenance : Sotheby's New York, 16-17 March 1984, lot 106.
Bluett & Sons Ltd., London, 20 March 1984.

Note : Large ice chests of this type were used in the Palace during the hot summer months. They were filled with ice and placed in certain rooms used by the Imperial family. The ice was used to cool drinks, fruit and sweet snacks, as well as cooling the surrounding area and somewhat alleviating the oppressive heat of Beijing, which the Manchu emperors found so uncomfortable. While usually placed on stands, like the current example, these chests were sometimes placed directly on the floor beneath tables to cool both the food and those seated at the table. In winter ice blocks were cut from the Inner Golden River and were stored in the five ice vaults in the Forbidden City near the Gate of the Great Ancestors. These ice vaults could hold about 20,000 blocks of ice. During the period from the first day of the fifth month to the twentieth day of the seventh month specific members of the Imperial Household Department received an allocation of two blocks of ice per day. Surviving records indicate that originally the ice chests were made of wood, and usually lined with lead, like the example in the Victoria and Albert Museum illustrated by C. Clunas in Chinese Furniture, London 1997, p.99, no.89, or lined with zinc as in the case of the example in the Musée Guimet illustrated by M. Beurdeley, Chinese Furniture, Tokyo 1979, p.95, no.130. However, by the 18th century, ice chests destined for the apartments of the empress and dowager empress are recorded as being made of plain bronze with pewter linings. It has been suggested that fine cloisonné enamel ice chests like the current example would have been intended for the emperor's apartments.

One of a pair of cloisonné enamel ice chests in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing is illustrated in Metal-bodied Enamel Ware - The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong 2002, p.134, no.129. The Beijing ice chests, which bear a six-character Qianlong mark (AD 1736 - 95), share with the current example the three horizontal divisions and two handles at each end. Both chests also have hinged lids and two coin-shaped piercings on one half of the lid. The double handles at either end of the current ice chest and the Beijing Palace example would have been necessary in order for the vessel to be carried, since it would have been extremely heavy when full of ice.

See another impressive imperial cloisonné square ice chest, Qianlong period, from the Love Collection, sold in our New York Rooms, 20 October 2004, lot 601. This latter was decorated all over with a dense pattern of butterflies and insects amidst various flowers.
Another imperial cloisonné ice chest from Qianlong reign, decorated with shou characters was sold in our Hong Kong Rooms, 29 april 2001, lot 578.

Christie's. Important Chinese Cloisonné Enamel Works of Art from the Juan Jose Amezaga and Maria Dolores Feijoo Collection, Part II. 7.December 2007. 9 avenue Matignon, Paris