Page 102 - Reginald and Lena Palmer Collection EXHIBITION, Bonhams London Oct 25 to November 2 2021

This vase is notable for its unusual faceted ‘lantern’ form, exquisite By the 18th century, the craft of enamelling on metal had reached
painterly enamelled decoration, and perfect combination of opulent perfection with forms and designs reflecting the Emperor’s extravagant
decoration and technical perfection, conveyed by the juxtaposition of and opulent taste. During the early decades of the Qianlong reign, no
polychrome enamels, including Imperial yellow richly decorating the expense was spared in developing the Palace Enamelling Workshops
neck and foot, and the meticulous attention to detail devoted to the using a wide range of subjects. The Qianlong Emperor not only
decorative designs. This vase is an exceptionally rare and outstanding demanded technical perfection but was willing to expend considerable
example of enamels painted on copper body made in the Imperial sums in order to obtain innovative and artistically superior pieces.
Workshops in Beijing during the Qianlong period.
The various decorative elements depicted on the present vase
The technique of enamelling on metal was first introduced in ingeniously combine Chinese and European traditions and
Guangzhou by Jesuit missionaries around 1684. During the reign innovations, exhibiting the total technical control and superb artistry
of the Kangxi Emperor and continuing through the reign of the accomplished by the Qianlong-period enamellers at their zenith. This
Qianlong Emperor, artisans were sent to Beijing to set up the Imperial can be seen in the remarkable richness and variety of the enamel
Workshops. The manufacturing process usually began by coating the colours evident in the wide variety, ranging from bright yellow tone,
metal object with an opaque white enamel surface. The vessel was various shades of pink, red and blue. Additionally, the European
then fired at a low temperature, which secured the enamel to the metal influence, through the involvement of Jesuit painters in the Imperial
body. Decorators then applied the design in coloured enamels and the Workshops, as well as the influence derived from European works
piece was fired again at a low temperature. The final stage involved of art given to the Court, is evident in the landscape scenes with
gilding the rims where the copper was left exposed. Referred to as shading and vanishing-point perspective.
yangcai or ‘foreign enamel’ as it was initially imported from Europe,
the enamelling pigments started being produced in China from around
1728, with the creation of opaque white enamel. In Qing Palace
records, painted enamel was categorised into enamel painting on gold,
silver, copper, enamel painting on Yixing stoneware, enamel painting
on porcelain and enamel painting on glass.

100 | BONHAMS