PAIR OF CHINESE EXPORT CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL MUSTARD POTS WITH INTEGRAL SPOONS - CIRCA 1880-1900

OVERVIEW:
A CHARMING PAIR OF LATE 19TH-CENTURY CHINESE EXPORT CONDIMENT VESSELS, EACH CRAFTED IN THE CLOISONNÉ TECHNIQUE WITH EXCEPTIONAL ATTENTION TO DECORATIVE DETAIL. THESE MUSTARD POTS EXEMPLIFY THE REFINED AESTHETIC OF CHINESE EXPORT METALWARE PRODUCED FOR THE EUROPEAN MARKET DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE VICTORIAN ERA. THE PIECES FEATURE A HARMONIOUS COMPOSITION OF WHITE ENAMEL GROUND DECORATED WITH VIBRANT PINK PEONIES, DEEP GREEN FOLIAGE, AND DELICATE GILT SCROLLWORK, ALL EXECUTED IN THE TRADITIONAL CLOISONNÉ METHOD.

SPECIFICATIONS:
- FORM: CYLINDRICAL MUSTARD POT WITH EVERTED RIM AND INTEGRAL POURING SPOUT
- PRIMARY MATERIAL: BRASS BODY WITH CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL DECORATION
- HANDLES: GILT BRONZE CURVED HANDLES, EACH WITH DECORATIVE SCROLLWORK
- INTERIOR: DARK BLUE ENAMEL, UNDECORATED
- RIM DECORATION: TURQUOISE AND BLACK ENAMEL BAND WITH GEOMETRIC PATTERNING
- SPOONS: TWO MATCHING GILT BRONZE SPOONS WITH DECORATIVE TERMINALS, INTEGRAL TO EACH POT
- HEIGHT: APPROXIMATELY 8 CM
- DIAMETER: APPROXIMATELY 7 CM

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:
BOTH POTS REMAIN IN GOOD CONDITION FOR THEIR AGE. THE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL SURFACES DISPLAY MINOR WEAR CONSISTENT WITH USE AND AGE, WITH NO SIGNIFICANT CHIPS OR LOSSES TO THE DECORATIVE ENAMEL. THE WHITE GROUND ENAMEL REMAINS LARGELY INTACT WITH ONLY MINOR SURFACE SCRATCHES. THE PINK PEONY FLOWERS RETAIN THEIR ORIGINAL VIBRANCY, AND THE GREEN FOLIAGE SHOWS NO FADING. THE GILT BRONZE HANDLES DISPLAY NATURAL PATINA APPROPRIATE TO THE PERIOD. THE INTERIOR DARK BLUE ENAMEL IS WELL-PRESERVED AND SHOWS NO CRAZING OR DETERIORATION. BOTH SPOONS ARE PRESENT, FUNCTIONAL, AND SHOW APPROPRIATE WEAR TO THEIR GILT SURFACES. THE BRASS BASE EXHIBITS MINOR OXIDATION TYPICAL OF AGE.

TECHNICAL NOTES:
THE CLOISONNÉ TECHNIQUE VISIBLE ON THESE PIECES DEMONSTRATES THE HIGH STANDARD OF CHINESE EXPORT MANUFACTURE. FINE BRASS WIRES (CLOISONS) HAVE BEEN SOLDERED TO THE BRASS BODY TO CREATE COMPARTMENTS (CELLS) WHICH WERE THEN FILLED WITH COLOURED ENAMEL PASTE AND FIRED. THE PRECISION OF THE FLORAL COMPOSITION AND THE EVENNESS OF THE ENAMEL FILL INDICATE SKILLED WORKSHOP PRODUCTION. THE TURQUOISE AND BLACK GEOMETRIC BAND TO THE RIM IS EXECUTED WITH PARTICULAR PRECISION, SUGGESTING THESE PIECES ORIGINATED FROM A QUALITY EXPORT WORKSHOP, LIKELY IN CANTON (GUANGZHOU).



Item Size: Height: 10cm, Width: 10cm, Depth: 10cm, Weight: 1Kg

Condition: Good

221432+9

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