A rare cloisonné enamel 'lotus' bell-shaped bowl, Ming dynasty, 16th century | 明十六世紀 掐絲琺瑯纏枝蓮紋仰鐘式盌

Anthony Carter, London, 24th November 1998.

Anthony Carter，倫敦，1998年11月24日

The present bowl is notable for its deep bell shape, as well as the use of turquoise green, which showcases the development of the colour palette during the 16th century. Similar use of the turquoise enamel can be found in pieces in other forms, see, for example, a gui shaped censer with similar lotus scrolls decoration, illustrated in Harry Garner, Chinese and Japanese Cloisonné Enamels, London, 1970, pl. 30A.

Compare a closely related example, illustrated in Harry Garner, op. cit., pl. 30B, and sold in these rooms, 12th November 1974, lot 150; a bowl in a similar shape, but decorated with a shou (longevity) character to the interior, included in the exhibition Cloisonné. Chinese Enamels from the Yuan Ming and Qing Dynasties, Bard Graduate Center, New York, 2011, cat. no. 38.