Page 16 - Bonhams Ming and Qing Cloisonne Hong Kong December 2, 2021

Fig.2 Fig.3 Fig.4

pattern and a winding branch pattern circular box. Others with diameter of about 50cm, as well as candlesticks,
5
include four published pieces, namely, a double-dragon-pattern and models of auspicious beasts. Furthermore, cloisonné
dish (44.8cm diam.); a double-dragon-pattern foliate-rim dish enamel became more life-oriented and practical. There
(49.6cm diam.), basically the same as the double-dragon- were new shapes of dishes for example, such as circular
pattern dish in the Beijing Palace Museum, but of slightly or chrysanthemum-petal and foliate-rim dishes. Incense
different size; a three-legged incense burner (18.5cm); and a burners too could be circular or rectangular.
white enamel lotus-pattern incense burner (8.3cm high). The
above is an incomplete list of cloisonné enamel wares with This essay introduces an exceptionally large and rare Imperial
Wanli ‘mark and period’ in known collections. The cloisonné cloisonné enamel dish, Wanli six-character ‘mark and period’
enamels of the Wanli reign represent a unique style in terms of (Lot 20). The interior is brightly decorated in multi-coloured
use, colour, pattern and style. enamels with two five-clawed dragons amidst scattered floral
sprigs, all encircled by a ruyi-head band and multi-coloured
Wanli-period cloisonné enamels surpassed the previous lotus scrolls with buds in the cavetto; the everted rim has
reign’s wares in terms of greater diversity of shape and the Eight Buddhist Treasures. The base is enamelled in red
usage. The cloisonné enamels of the Yuan dynasty and the with a six-character reign mark reserved on a large greenish-
early Ming dynasty were mainly incense burners and vases, turquoise rectangle, within key-fret and ruyi borders surrounded
as Cao Zhao’s treatise, the Gegu Yaolun (The Essential by scattered multi-coloured clouds, all on a bluish-turquoise
Criteria of Antiques) of the early Ming dynasty stated: ground. The decorative pattern on the dish is very similar to
Wanli period lacquerware and porcelain; with double dragons
‘The body is made of copper, and fired to make motifs with and dragons and phoenixes as the main components, which
five colours...they are used to smell incense, and as vases, demonstrate the supremacy of Imperial power. The dragons on
boxes and so on.’ 6 the present dish are different from the dishes with dragons in
both the Beijing and Taipei Palace Museums. These dragons
These cloisonné enamel vessels were relatively small and are agile and elegant, lacking the mighty power of early Ming
simple in form. In the Wanli reign, there larger dishes emerged dragons, giving a more decorative effect. The decoration of

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