Chinese Art | 中國藝術品
Chinese Art | 中國藝術品
A rare embellished gilt-copper and basse taille enamel snuff box and cover, Qing Dynasty, Canton, Qianlong period | 清乾隆 廣東 鎏金銅嵌寳雙喜花卉紋小蓋盒
Auction Closed
May 12, 12:32 PM GMT
Estimate
12,000 - 15,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A rare embellished gilt-copper and basse taille enamel snuff box and cover
Qing Dynasty, Canton, Qianlong period
清乾隆 廣東 鎏金銅嵌寳雙喜花卉紋小蓋盒
of oval form rising from a flat base, the cover decorated in gold foil with a central double xi character between butterflies and floral sprays and enclosed by a rope twist band, all depicted on a bright green ground executed in basse taille technique, bordered a band of facetted red glass stones, the sides finely incised and gilt with panels of leafy florettes on a dense ground, the base and interior richly gilt
2
Length 6.7 cm, 2 5/8 in.
Formerly in a French collection.
法國舊藏
The technique of using transparent enamel over a patterned metal body was introduced to Chinese craftsmen in the 18th century. Small precious snuff gold boxes and pocket watches came to the attention of the Qing court when they were gifted to the Imperial family by Jesuit missionaries. In Canton, the basse taille technique was then developed and perfected by skilled artisans already familiar with the technique of cloisonne and painted enamels. Pieces such as the present lot came to the Qing court as tributes by Guangdong officials. Several examples in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, are illustrated in The Complete Treasures of the Palace Museum - Metal-Bodied Enamel Ware, vol. 43, Hong Kong, 2002, pp. 252-256, nos. 238-241.