Page 18 - Chinese Decorative Arts: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 55, no. 1 (Summer, 1997)

peonies growing among rocks, against a dotted Pair Covered "ginger jars" because they were used mainly
Jars
of
light blue background, appear on the front and .................................................................................... to store and ship the plant, essential to can-
back of the larger example, which is more Qing dynasty, Qianlongperiod died ginger or to syrup. This copper pair has
(1736-95)
Chinese in its themes and its painting style. Two Painted enamel been completely painted with enamels. The
different long-tailed birds are perched near the H. each 10 in. (25.4 cm) light green bases have borders of scrolling
flowers; one is on a rock and the other (illus- Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913 chrysanthemums enclosing two overlapping
trated here) on a branch. Both bottles have 14.40.161a,b, 14.40.162a,b circles containing the phrase "Qianlong nian
the phrase "Qianlong nian zhi" (made during zhi" (made during the Qianlong reign).
the Qianlong reign) written in blue on their nvented in Limoges, France, during the Variegated flowers and leaves scroll against a
bases. DPL fifteenth century, the technique paint- yellow background on the bodies. Cartouches
of
ing colored glass on metal was brought by containing lotus scrolls set against light blue
Jesuits during the reign of the Kangxi emperor backgrounds are shown on the shoulders and
to China, where such are are partially covered by an elaborate textile-
(1662-1722) pieces
sometimes known as "foreign porcelains" like design of green, pink, and yellow cloths
(yangci). Like cloisonne, painted enamels for joined together in a somewhat fantastic com-
court use were made in one of the specialized bination and tied in a knot. Such designs are
imperial household workshops in the Forbidden also found on lacquers and jades dating to the
in
City. Many others were produced private eighteenth century. Much care has been taken
workshops in Canton. Beginning in the early here to represent the elaborate patterns of
a
eighteenth century, large number of these each fabric. It is possible that this motif illus-
of
were exported to the West, where they are trates the practice wrapping jars with fine
commonly called "Canton" enamels. textiles before presenting them (and presumably
as
Jars of this shape, particularly those of their contents) gifts. DPL
porcelain, are often known in the West as

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