429.
A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL BASIN
Ming dynasty, Wanli period
5,5 x 28,2 cm
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. 5289.
Richly decorated in green, red, white, black and turquoise enamels, the centre with a carp emerging from the water of a river under the moon and a clouded sky, the round medallion surrounded by a series of concentric bands with stylized floral scrolls and geometric motifs, the interior of the wall with four lobed cartouches with abstract flowers, the rim with a pattern of triangles, the back with a similar but simpler geometric decoration.
The carp (li), identifiable for the scales that cover its body and the pair of long barbels attached to its lip, symbolizes a wish for profit and strength, because of the homophony of its name with the characters which identify those two words.
A very similar basin is in the MUDEC museum in Milan (inv. n. CIN 224).
