A FINE CLOISONNE ENAMEL DOCUMENT BOX QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of rectangular form, each face brightly polychrome enamelled with a village river landscape of boats and houses on stilts with mountains in the distance, all within a gilt keyfret band and raised on a low waisted base with shaped apron, the hinged cover fitted to the front with a pierced gilt-metal lock plate and to the rear with a pair of cloisonne enamel hinges

The document box is in very good overall condition with the exception of wear around the apron including denting to the corners and distortion to the feet, enamel loss in particular around the corners of the apron, a 10 x 2mm vertical crack to the left rear foot, loss of the latch plate, loss to small areas of enamel on the rear hinges which are also separated, characteristic light pitting and enamel shrinkage overall and light rubbing to the gilding.
"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 companion piece to this chest, in the Pierre Uldry collection, was included in the exhibition Chinesisches Cloisonné. Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Rietberg Museum, Zurich, 1985, cat. no. 315. The riverscape scene adorning these boxes depicts the journey undertaken by many candidates to sit the government examinations in the hope of becoming officials. Coupled with the inscriptions on the sails of two boats, hui shi, denoting the examination for the jinshi degree, and ling, which can be translated as 'command', the scenes suggest that these chests may have been presented as a gift upon success in the jinshi examinations or the scholastic use of these boxes.