Page 162 - Important Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, Hong Kong

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A CLOISONNE ENAMEL ARCHAISTIC VASE, LEI

QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

The tapering body and everted neck are decorated with bats amongst scrolling lotus below
a band of pendent blades with a bovine mask handle issuing from the centre, between
bands of taotie masks and confronting dragons to the shoulder and foot, each interrupted
by six raised flanges, the shoulder applied with two dragon-head form handles and six
raised circular bosses with dragons.
17 Ω in. (44.5 cm.) high

HK$2,000,000-3,000,000 US$260,000-390,000

PROVENANCE

Sold at Christie’s London, 9 November 2010, lot 266

This vase belongs to a group of cloisonné vases produced in the 18th century decorated with
archaistic designs and inspired by archaic bronze forms. This group is referred to by Sir Harry
Garner in Chinese and Japanese Cloisonne Enamels, London, 1970, p. 81, where he notes, ‘the
shapes of these vessels are almost always based on those of ancient bronzes, such as the gu, hu
and ding. The vessels are well made and the enamels cover a wide range of colours, generally
set against a deep turquoise-blue ground’.

Another Qianlong cloisonné lei vase of slightly different proportions and decoration was sold at
Christie’s London, 7 June 1993, lot 122.

清十八世紀 掐絲琺瑯龍首耳罍

來源
倫敦佳士得，2010 年 11 月 9 日，拍品 266 號

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