421.
A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL TRIPOD DISH
Ming dynasty, 16th century
3,3 x 15,5 cm
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection, acquired from Bellenot, Boulevard des Capucines 35 (label).
inv. n. 5238.
During the late Ming dynasty, it was not uncommon that cloisonné circular dishes were converted into candle stands or incense-stick holder adding three bronze feet. This is what probably happened to this plate, which presents to the centre of the upper surface, surrounded by a sinuous floral decoration, a gilt brass small disc originally used to hold a now lost small incense burner.
A tripod dish with comparable shape and dimensions, characterised by a similar floral decoration on the rim is in Les Arts Décoratifs-musée des Arts décoratifs, Paris (B. Quette (edited by), Cloisonné. Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, exhibition catalogue, New York 2011, n. 33).
