A LARGE IMPERIAL CLOISONNE ENAMEL TRIPOD BASIN MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

decorated overall in cloisonné enamels with large stylised lotus blooms on tight scrolling leafy stems with a central gilt-metal circular medallion depicting in high-relief a dragon and phoenix in mutual pursuit on the interior, and on the underside as a dragon in pursuit of a pearl, the everted sides supported by three gilt-metal elephant head feet, the bottom of the sides on the exterior with a band of upright lotus lappets, the gilt-metal rim incised on the exterior with the six-character mark

The C. Ruxton and Audrey B. Love Collection.  Christie's New York, 20th October 2004, lot 613. 

This basin represents the high level of artistic and technical achievement of the imperial enamel craftsmen of the Qianlong reign.  Its unusual design also reflects the Emperor's desire to challenge his artists to make pieces that were technically innovative.  No other example of this type appears to have been published. 

Large basins of this type did not only serve as decorative purposes, but were also made to be used, as shown by the elegant washbasin in Helmut Brinker and Albert Lutz, Chinesisches Cloisonné: Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Zurich, 1985, fig. 63. 

The tradition of using three elephant heads as the feet of imperial ritual vessels can be traced back as far as the reign of Xuande.  An example of a censer with the six-character Xuande reign mark, on which the elephants balance on their rolled trunks, as on this piece, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in A Special Exhibition of Incense Burners and Perfumers Throughout the Dynasties, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1994, p. 199 no. 54.

For the inspiration of this basin, see a smaller basin of related design, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Enamel Ware in the Ming and Chi'ng Dynasties, Taipei, 1999, pl. 18.