A CANTON ENAMEL BELT BUCKLE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the oval belthook centered with a shaped Canton enamel panel painted with the bust of an European lady dressed in a lavish pink robe with her head tilted towards a pink rose held up by her right hand against a rich blue basse-taille ground, all enclosed by a loose band of ruby-coloured glass beads interrupted by two clusters of ruby-glass florets and a dense band of white glass beads at the rim inlaid on a hatched gilt ground, the side further decorated with a key-fret border

The overall condition is very good with the enamelling intact, the glass inlay also all intact. The gilding is in very good condition. The buckle on the back is removable.
"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 decoration on the present lot, with the combination of basse-taille and glass bead embellishment on gilt metal is often found on imperial tribute clocks made in the Guangzhou workshops during the Qianlong period. For an example with these techniques, see a clock in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Scientific and Technical Instruments of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1998, cat. no. 219.