Gilded Bronze Planter With Cloisonné Enamel (l45cm)

A large and magnificent ribbed, ovoid-shaped planter, made of cloisonné enamel on a turquoise-blue background, featuring a rich polychrome floral design of pink peonies, blue and yellow chrysanthemums, and prunus branches, accented by a stylized bird. The neck is encircled by an openwork gilded bronze frame featuring architectural motifs.

The two handles, in high relief, depict Chinese dragons sculpted in the round, with sinuous bodies and expressive heads, typical of the 19th-century Orientalist repertoire. The piece rests on a four-legged base of openwork bronze, with legs ending in elephant heads, adorned with beaded friezes and geometric motifs.

A fine example of the collaboration between Chinese cloisonné art and Western metalwork, this piece illustrates the 19th century’s pronounced taste for objects inspired by the Far East.