355.
A CRACKLED-GLAZED CYLINDRICAL BOX AND COVER WITH GILT METAL MOUNT
the box Qing dynasty, Qianlong period; the mount probably French, second half of the 18th century
14 cm high
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. 3397.
The box is overall covered with a crackled glaze of cream colour, the cylindrical container supported by a short circular foot and surmounted by a flattened domed cover, the rims of the box and of the cover underlined by gilt bronze stripes with incised floral motifs, the centre of the lid with a circular gilt bronze handle with a flower-shaped finial.
If the shape of this box betrays a European origin, the glaze – with its very thick lines casually arranged on the whole surface – is clearly reminiscent of a Song dynasty style.
