A Canton enamel 'dragon' box and cover, Qing dynasty, 19th century | 清十九世紀 銅胎畫琺瑯雲龍戲珠紋花式大蓋盒

A Canton enamel 'dragon' box and cover

Qing dynasty, 19th century

清十九世紀 銅胎畫琺瑯雲龍戲珠紋花式大蓋盒

of eight-lobed form supported on a slightly splayed foot, the domed cover vividly enameled with four five-claw dragons chasing a 'flaming pearl' in the center, the 'flaming pearl' surrounded by two pairs of shou and swastika motifs and four more auspicious emblems, painted with the 'Eight Buddhist Emblems' each on one lobe to the sides, with more auspicious motifs in between, all amidst layers of polychrome clouds against blue ground, encircled with a narrow band of bats along the rim, the box similarly decorated to the sides, with a lappet of upright petals above the foot, and a keyfret band encircling the foot, the inside enameled light yellow, the base enameled white (2)

Diameter 11 ⅞ in., 32 cm