A RARE 'GUANGDONG' ENAMEL REPOUSSE 'EUROPEAN-SUBJECT' PANEL QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the copper panel beaten to produce a three dimensional affect of a European family at leisure gathering flowers in an extensive parkland landscape, beside a fenced lake, a variety of western-style buildings scattered on the far shore, pine frame

The catalogue photograph has a yellow tinge especially to the sky which is more blue in reality. With enamel on copper there is always some very fine crazing to the enamel, with some small areas of loss which have been restored. The majority can be seen clearly from the catalogue photograph: area of loss to top edge of sky exposing copper ground, 2.5cm., approx, a discoloured area to the right, with some re-touching, approx 9cm. Both top corners, re-touched with discoloured over painting. Some very fine crazing lines around the centre of the composition, almost like `mistral winds' in the sky, and running down between the central figures. Small flake to lake which has been retouched, just to the left of gentleman in purple coat. Both bottom corners have been retouched and restored, with some enamel loss to bottom left corner, again exposing copper ground. Apart from these minor faults, the panel is extremely lively in its rendition of a European family at leisure, with particularly fine flesh tones to the faces, and treatment of their clothes.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present panel is exceptional both in technique and decoration, with the figures, buildings and landscape in repousse to enhance the three-dimensional effect of the scene which is unusually detailed in its depiction of a lively and well-dressed group of Western figures. The soft colouring of the panel is reminiscent of European water-colour painting. The quality of the workmanship of this panel together with the painted decoration suggest that the panel may have been made as a tributary item by enamellers working in Guangdong.  

There are three known panels of this type published. One depicting a group of musicians playing on a veranda by a lake-side to a seated lady and gentleman, formerly on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and included in the exhibition Europa und die Kaiser von China, Berliner Festspiele, Berlin, 1985, cat.no. 7/25, was sold in these rooms, 30th October 1987, lot 375. One depicting ladies on a promenade surrounded by neo-classical buildings, formerly in the collection of Mrs. J. Clifford Roscoe, Tadcaster, Yorkshire, and sold in these rooms, 21st November 1961, lot 14, is illustrated in R. Soame Jenyns, Chinese Art. The Minor Arts, Fribourg, 1963, pl. 112. The authors ibid., p. 244, note that the panel 'must have been made for the European market, or for the European rooms in the Yuan Ming Yuan, the great palace built by the Emperor K'ang Hsi and Yung Cheng which was destroyed by fire in 1860'. 

The third known related panel depicting Western musicians and dancers in front of 18th century style houses, from the collection of J. Tayleur, was sold at Christie's London, 7th October 1968, lot 181, again in these rooms, 7th November 1995, lot 132, and again at Bonhams London, 8th June 2004, lot 103.

See also two large panels from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, painted in a similar colour scheme with a Chinese landscape with pavilions by a lake, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, pls. 234 and 235, where they are described as Guangdong tribute wares to the court.

Compare also a smaller plaque decorated in the same style with Western figures in landscape, from the collection of Hermann von Mandl of Vienna, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 30th October 2002, lot 206; and another panel with a comparable composition, perhaps by the same artist, included in the exhibition  Chinese Painted Enamels, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1978, cat. no. 118, and sold in our Monte Carlo rooms, 23rd June 1986, lot 1169.