Bajixiang Box

QING PERIOD 1644 to 1911

BAJIXIANG 八吉祥 BOX 珐琅彩 FALANGCAI ENAMEL
THE EIGHT AUSPICIOUS SYMBOLS OF BUDDHISM
A RARE MASTERPIECE

The box of a compressed octagonal shape, with pronounced rounded lobes standing on a short octagonal foot
Painted in the finest and most exquisite of details.
The cover with a central medallion bearing the stylised character Shou (壽 Longevity) in black, against a puce ground.
Encircled by a linked group of five bats in imperial yellow, that together form the rebus Wufu.
The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism anointed around, surrounded by a multitude of variegated stemmed blossoms in a profusion of colours and shades.
An outer circular medallion of puce bordered with inverted ruyi heads in yellow with sky blue edging.
The rounded lobes each portraying one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols encompassed by the most magnificent, prolific, astonishing display of stemmed flowers.
In varying stages of buds, blooms and blossoms, an endless range of colours and hues, painted in beautiful, elegant, minuscule details.
The box decorated accordingly to match the cover.
The artwork in its entirety all set against a cobalt blue ground.
The cover and box inners enamelled in turquoise.
The foot enamelled around and under in white, a four character Qianlong Period Mark in cobalt blue set within a bordered square.

The painting on this box is amazing, the finest and most diminutive of artwork that are nearly microscopic.

The close up images are much larger than actual.

An Amazing Rare Treasure To Beguile The Beholder

 
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.

Width about : 14.3 cm x 14.3 cm
Height about : 4.5 cm
A$13,500

This Auspicious Box appears to be rare perhaps unique, I have not seen another box this size decorated accordingly.

The ‘Eight Auspicious Symbols’ Bajixiang 八吉祥 , were introduced to China with Tibetan Buddhism during the Yuan dynasty (AD1279-1368).
They are: the wheel of the dharma, conch shell, victory banner, parasol, lotus flower, treasure vase, fish pair and the endless knot.
They have been used in decorative arts to bring peace and blessings and stand for the following virtues:
Wheel of the Dharma (lun 轮) Knowledge
Conch shell (luo 螺) Thoughts of the Buddha.
Victory banner (san 傘) Victorious battle of the Buddha’s teaching over all hindrances.
Parasol (gai 蓋) Protection as well as spiritual power.
Lotus flower (hehua 荷花) Purity and enlightenment
Treasure vase (guan 罐) Inexhaustible treasure and wealth
Fish pair (yu 鱼) Conjugal happiness and freedom from restraint
Endless knot (panchang 盤長) Harmony
Five Bats - Wufu 五福 , also known as the "Five Happinesses" or "Five Good Fortunes".
Refer to longevity (shou 寿), wealth (fu 富), health and composure (kangning 康宁), virtue (xiu hao de 修好德), and the desire to die a natural death in old age (lao zhong ming 考 终命).
The box is of the same quality and standard as that produced in the Imperial Workshops of the Imperial Palace, 造 辦 處 Zaobanchu.
The art of enamelling known as Falangcai 珐琅彩 (foreign enamel) was introduced to China and the Chinese Court by the Jesuit lay brother Giuseppe Castiglione. In China, Castiglione took the name Lang Shining (郎世寧) and was court artist to the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong Emperors.