Page 48 - Sotheby's October 3 2017 Chinese Art
P. 48
PAINTED CLOISONS OF
EAST AND WEST
This magnificent vase belongs to a group of vessels While in its colour scheme the present vase imitates cloisonné
commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor which was created metalwork, stylistically it stands in the plain tradition of yangcai
to imitate cloisonné enamel. The Qianlong Emperor was porcelain with its dense overall floral designs on a coloured
particularly fond of cloisonné work which he revived on a ground. The term ‘yangcai’, used by the Emperor himself,
grand scale after a period of disregard under the Yongzheng acknowledges the exchanges between China and the West,
Emperor. He had it imitated not only in porcelain, like on the seen here in particular in the bajixiang that are interspersed
present piece, but even in copper, where the wires separating among Western-style floral compositions. Furthermore, the
the cloisons of different enamels were mirrored by finely design is rendered in tones created through the use of white
painted golden lines. Although the idea of imitating other enamel which was first introduced to the Qing court by Jesuit
materials through porcelain had existed well-before the artists and, after repeated experiments, were successfully
eighteenth century, the craftsmen of the Qianlong period copied by imperial craftsmen. Particularly unusual is the
advanced the technique to a completely different level of asymmetrical irregular pattern whose admirable organisation
perfection, sometimes creating pieces that were difficult to nevertheless conveys the impression of a formally organised
distinguish from the actual medium they were simulating. design. It is composed of flower sprays, which are loosely
The painter of the present piece has successfully imitated strewn all over the body, but so evenly spaced over the surface
the effect of gilt wires by outlining the famille-rose enamelled that any clusters or gaps are avoided. The thin golden outlines
pattern in gilt, the linearity of which creates a pleasing contrast confining the vibrant enamels are a brilliant means to make the
with the sculptural ruyi handles. colours stand out against the turquoise ground.
46 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比
