Page 58 - Bonhams Ming and Qing Cloisonne Hong Kong December 2, 2021

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A VERY RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL AND GILT-BRONZE
‘CRANES’ EWER
Jiajing incised six-character mark and of the period
The compressed globular body raising to a tall flaring neck, set with a
slender S-shaped spout and a C-shaped handle, the exterior brightly
enamelled on a turquoise ground with cranes in flight amidst scrolling
clouds, the flared foot further decorated with a band of scrolls on
green ground, the base incised with a six-character da ming jiajing nian
zhi mark. 20.2cm (8in) high.

HKD700,000 - 900,000
US$90,000 - 120,000

明嘉靖 銅胎掐絲琺瑯雲鶴紋執壺 「大明嘉靖年製」刻款

The present ewer is an extremely rare example of cloisonné enamel Among the Ming dynasty emperors, the Jiajing emperor was
wares with a Jiajing Imperial reign mark. Very few cloisonné enamel particularly fervent in his Daoist beliefs. The decoration on the present
pieces with Jiajing reign mark and of the period, appear to have been ewer is both dynamic and evocative, while the shape of the ewer
published, which include: gives it a real presence. Its high quality combined with the themes of
Daoism and Immortality would have made it most appropriate for the
• A cloisonné enamel ‘dragon and phoenix’ dish in the Palace celebration of the birthday of the Jiajing emperor. The crane-and-cloud
Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of motif are symbols of Immortality, similar decorative motifs can also
the Palace Museum: Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002,
no.46; be found on Imperial lacquer wares, such as a circular lacquer ‘crane

• A cloisonné enamel ‘phoenix’ bowl and a ‘dragon’ dish in the Uldry and clouds’ box and cover, Jiajing mark and period, in the Qing Court
Collection, illustrated by H.Brinker and A.Lutz, Chinesisches Cloisonné: Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the
Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Zurich, 1984, pls.70 and 71; Palace Museum: Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties,

• A cloisonné enamel ‘dragon’ dish, illustrated in Gems of Beijing Hong Kong, 2006, no.137.
Cultural Relics Series: Works of Decorative Arts, vol.1, Beijing, 2006,
pls.130-132; See also a related small cloisonné enamel ‘fish’ jar, Jiajing mark and

• A cloisonné enamel ‘crane and shou-character’ jar in the Phoenix period, which was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 April 2018, lot 3412.
Art Museum, illustrated by B.Quette, ed., Cloisonné: Chinese Enamels
from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, New York, 2011, no.37; Please refer to the essay by Zhang Rong in this catalogue for further

• Two examples in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, comprising discussion on Jiajing mark and period cloisonné enamel wares.
a cloisonné enamel ‘cranes’ bowl and a cloisonné enamel octagonal
‘scholars’ box and cover, illustrated by B.Quette, ibid., nos.38 and 39.

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