18 PANEL LOBED BOX & COVER MASTERPIECE

QING PERIOD 1644 to 1911

18 PANEL LOBED BOX & COVER MASTERPIECE 珐琅彩 FALANGCAI ENAMEL

The hexagonal box of rounded sides rising from a short lobed foot bearing six cartouche with raised borders.
Each exquisitely enamelled with various scenes of flowers, blossoms and buds, in superb variety of colours and shades.
All under a scrolling collar in high relief enamelled in bronze gold gilt.

The matching hexagonal cover with a bronze gold gilt finial surrounded by six small panels.
Each decorated with various mountain water scenes painted in the finest most miniscule of details, alternating in colours and shades of puce, cobalt blue and grey monochrome, above a scrolling border in high relief of enamelled bronze gold gilt.

Underneath six elongated medallions with raised borders, each portraying a tranquil scene of a Chinese mother and child in varying pursuits.

A scrolling border in high relief, enamelled bronze gold gilt under.

The cartouche, panels and medallions, all set between stylised Indian lotus flowers and leafage against a mustard yellow ground.

The interior enamelled turquoise, the base enamelled white with a four character Yongzheng period mark in cobalt blue set within a double line square.

The miniature artwork portrayed in all the scenes is truly amazing, it is only by looking at the scenes with magnification ( as in these images) that one can appreciate the absolute mastery of the artist that dazzles the imagination.

This lidded box is ' Truly Auspicious' because of its symbolism.

The box with its cover is six sided, containing 6 panels in 3 rows. In Chinese 3 (三), pronounced san, is considered lucky due to its similarity in sound to the word that means birth.
Additionally, this number represents the three stages in the life of humans - birth, marriage, death.
6 (六), pronounced liu, is considered lucky as it sounds like the word that means 'to flow', and can indicate smooth progress in life.
It also means to be well-off.
The total number of panels add up to 18.
In Chinese tradition, 18 pronounced 十八 (shí bā) is considered a lucky number due to the similarity with 實發 (shì fā) 'definitely get rich', 'to get rich for sure'


Refer Large Images for details, quality and condition, they also form the description.
Depending on your computer monitor / phone / etc colour may vary to actual.

Dimensions are maximum measurements

Colours may vary slightly to actual, depending on your Monitor, Phone etc.
Condition: excellent for age.

Dimensions:
Height 11.4 cm (including finial) x 12. cm
Width 12 cm
Weight: 373 grams

This box is of the same quality and standard as that produced in the Imperial Workshops of the Imperial Palace, 造 辦 處 Zaobanchu

A$15,000


The art of enamelling was introduced to the Chinese Court in the Kangxi era 1654 to 1722, by the Jesuit Guiseppe Castiglione (Lan Shining).