Page 17 - Bonhams Ming and Qing Cloisonne Hong Kong December 2, 2021

Fig.5 Fig.6

floral scrolls on the present dish is also typical of Wanli period of the Yuan dynasty and the early Ming dynasty used sky
cloisonné enamel. The moonflask offered in this auction with blue enamel as the ground colour. Blue was the colour most
peach and pomegranates are also typical of Wanli cloisonné used in enamelware, while Wanli enamelware began to boldly
enamel, (Lot 31). use white, green and pink enamel as the ground colours. The
beauty and decorative effect of enamelware improved; the wire
The colours found on Wanli cloisonné enamelware are red, inlay evolved from the thin wire in the early Ming period to the
white, yellow, turmeric, dark blue, sky blue, turquoise, and pink, thick wire, combined with the thick and bright gilt of the late
etc. The pink enamel typically is covered with red spots on a Ming, becoming more and more magnificent. With regards to
white ground when viewed under a magnifying glass; the two the calligraphy of the mark, a style was formed that is different
colours do not seem to be completely integrated. At the same from that of any other period. There are two types of the mark.
time, on the surface, it appears soft pink. This two-tone enamel One was to fill the cloisons forming ‘Da Ming Wanli nian zhi’
glaze is an original creation of the Wanli period. The turquoise- with enamel in two vertical lines in regular kaishu script within
green enamel glaze is also a new colour that appeared during a rectangular frame on the bottom of the vessel (fig.7). Only
the Wanli reign. All enamels during the Wanli period were the ground colour is different, the characters are all in red, and
devitrified and no longer had the transparent lustre of the Yuan the rectangular box is decorated in various colours with ruyi-
and early Ming period enamels. In terms of decorative patterns, head cloud pattern. The second is to simply inscribe the mark
compared to the simple use of meandering lotus scrolls in the on metal, in two vertical lines in regular script. Interestingly,
Yuan dynasty and the early Ming dynasty, auspicious patterns the Palace Museum, Beijing has three pieces of Wanli period
such as double dragons, Longevity characters, and the Eight cloisonné enamel wares which were altered; with copper sheets
Buddhist Emblems etc., appeared. Due to differences in the inscribed with a Jingtai mark welded over the Wanli mark (fig.8).
manufacturing process, figures and animal designs that are
easy to portray in porcelain and lacquerware are more difficult According to the records, during the Ming dynasty there were
on cloisonné enamel. The easiest design to depict in cloisonné three government offices employed to oversee the production of
enamelware are entwined branches and lotus. Patterns such Imperial cloisonné enamel wares. These included three divisions
as cranes and figures require superb skills. The enamelware managed by the ‘Neifu’, the Imperial Household - ‘Yuyongjian’

COLOUR / IMPACT: CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL IN THE MING AND EARLY QING DYNASTY | 15