An excellent and extremely rare Zitan brush cup with enamel decoration in relief

Description:

China, Yongzheng/ Qianlong period
17,2 x 11 x 11 cm
Square on a protruding stand decorated with volutes and foliage. Around the wall four scenes in enamel on copper with garden landscapes, rocks and two figures each or a scene with three figures, with scholars and servant boys in western style.
European private collection, family-owned before 1970, originally collected in the second half of the 19th century in the diplomatic service in China, old collection label inside
A comparable brush pot with the combination of enamel in relief on zitan could not be found by us to date- Few small losses to enamel restored, on panel at rim and the stand replaced