Page 100 - Christie's, The Palmer Family Collection May 31 to June 1, 2023 Hong Kong

It is rare to find a cloisonné enamel box and cover such as the 蒸餅式盒，子母口蓋，淺壁，圈足，器內外均以掐絲琺瑯飾夔鳳牡丹紋，蓋緣、
present pair, where both exterior and interior are carefully 口緣以鎏金飾如意雲紋，蓋及盒內另飾壽字紋。鳳凰牡丹紋與團壽紋相互呼
decorated with equal level of attention, requiring extensive labour 應，傳達富貴吉祥及長壽之祝願，巧心獨具，或為生日節慶所製。夔鳳紋應為
and time. There are only a handful of examples of cloisonné 十八世紀宮廷工匠們在夔龍的基礎上發展出的新紋飾，表現了皇帝好古慕雅
enamel circular boxes and covers from the Qianlong period, 的情結，直至乾隆朝夔鳳紋已成當時的時代特色，並常見於瓷器。北京故宮
and it is rare to find a pair of the size of present lot and with the 博物院藏一件乾隆期掐絲琺瑯菱花邊洗式盆，紋飾與此拍品相近，載於故宮
archaistic phoenix as a motif. The combination of phoenix and
peony symbolises prosperity, bright future and happiness. With the 博物院藏數字文庫，編號故00119034。 (圖二)
shou character motif on the interiors for the wish of longevity, it is
possible that the present pair of boxes was made to commemorate
an imperial birthday.

Compare to a cloisonné enamel basin of similar design in
the collection of Palace Museum, Beijing, see collection no.
GU00119034 (Fig. 2) on the digital archive.

Fig. 2 Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing
圖二 北京故宮博物院藏品

(reverse 背面)

98 A HERITAGE OF APPRECIATION