Page 168 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art London Nov. 2019

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A VERY RARE CLOISONNÉ-ENAMEL ‘BUDDHIST LIONS’ EWER
16th century
Of baluster form with high arched handle and spout, the body
decorated in bright enamels with a continuous scene of Buddhist lions
playing with embroidered balls and long flowing ribbons, surrounded
by wispy clouds against a turquoise background, all between ruyi-
head lappets around the shoulder and lotus petals around the foot, the
handle enameled with two bands of ruyi-heads borne on foliate scrolls
and the neck and spout with floral scrolls.
21.8cm (8 5/8in) wide.

£60,000 - 80,000
CNY530,000 - 710,000

十六世紀 掐絲琺瑯瑞獅戲球圖執壺

Although the lion is not native to China, its image has long been Compare with a very similar cloisonné enamel ewer and cover, 16th
important to the repertoire of Chinese iconography. Lions were first century, also decorated with lions and with the cover, illustrated by
presented to the Han court by emissaries from Central Asia and H.Brinker and A.Lutz, Chinese Cloisonné: The Pierre Uldry Collection,
Persia, and the Chinese for lion (shi 獅) is thought to be derived London, 1989, no.98. The author notes that ‘no prototype in porcelain
from the Persian word šer. Lions were often seen in stone statuary, [of this shape] exist, but other examples are known in cloisonné
symbolising protection and law, and from the Tang dynasty, appeared enamel. These ewers, sometimes decorated with lions, sometimes
on decorative arts. The Buddha’s teachings are often referred to as the with scrolling lotus, possibly served as ritual vessels in Buddhist or
‘lion’s roar’ in the sutras, indicating their power and nobility. Buddhist Lamaist ritual ceremonies.’
lions playing with a brocade ball became the most popular form of
imagery for the lion and appear during the Ming dynasty. For a very Compare with a very similar cloisonné-enamel ewer and cover, 16th
similar decoration of Buddhist lions, see a cloisonné enamel dish, century, which was sold at Christie’s Paris, 7 December 2007, lot 6; see
16th century, illustrated by C.Brown, Chinese Cloisonné: The Clague another very similar cloisonné-enamel ewer and cover, 17th century,
Collection, Phoenix Art Museum, 1980, pp.22-23, pl.3. which was sold at Christie’s London, 12 November 2010, lot 1146.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
166 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.