A large cloisonne ice chest and stand Qing dynasty, 19th century 清十九世紀 掐絲琺瑯蓮花紋冰箱

Large ice chests of this type derive from wooden prototypes lined with metal such as lead; see an example in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, illustrated in Craig Clunas, Chinese Furniture, London, 1997, p. 99, pl. 89. The form and horizontal gilt-metal ribs are examples of the original wooden structure that have been retained, along with the transportable nature of these chests as seen in the sturdily constructed handles.

The chests would have been filled with ice and used in the hot summer months to cool drinks and food, as well as cooling the surrounding area. The pierced covers allowed cooled air to escape, which would then be fanned into the rooms by servants.

A similarly decorated chest but of the Qianlong period, in the Palace Museum Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 129.