A FINE AND LARGE CLOISONNÉ VASE IN YENYEN FORM IN ARCHAIC STYLE

Description:

China, 17th c.
H. 44,5 cm
From a South German private collection, acquired before 2007
The lotus leaf motif on the present piece is typical of cloisonné enamels from the early Qing dynasty; see for example a cloisonnéenamel vase with äsimilar interlocking lotus motifs, early Qing dynasty, illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Enamels, 2, Beijing, 2011, pp. 36-37, no. 11. See also another cloisonnéenamelled vase in the Qing court collection, illustrated in ibid, no. 14, with a very äsimilar interlocking lotus pattern and mythical animal figures. The lotus has a symbolic meaning and stands for purity, enlightenment and spiritual renewal. Its prominent presence in höfic cloisonnéenamels reflects the Qing court's reverence for traditional Chinese symbolism and äaesthetic ideals, while also serving as a visual expression of the dynasty's cultural and spiritual aspirations. See also a related but larger (59 cm high) Cloisonné enamelled vase with flanges, Kangxi, with äsimilarly expansive müing and interlocking lotus motif, in the Museé Guimet, Paris, illustrated by B. Quette, ed. Cloisonné: Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, New York, 2011, p.259, No.70 - Signs of age, few small filled losses to enamel