62.
A PAIR OF POLYCHROME ENAMELLED JARS WITH GILT BRONZE MOUNT
the porcelain Qing dynasty, circa 1660; the mount European, late 18th century
19 cm high each
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina,Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. nn. 4087, 4092.
Each jar with European ormolu metal mount and missing its cover. Each decorated on the main register with a Buddhist lions striding amidst a tree peony scroll, below a honeycomb diaper ground and ruyi-heads over lappets below the shoulders with a scroll band, the neck with a peony scroll.
Buddhist lions are seen in Chinese culture as protective beasts, also representative of strength and wisdom.
The peony, associated with the third month, is known as the ‘king of flowers’ as well as Fu gui hua, meaning “the flower of wealth and honour”.
The use of ormolu metal mounts in Europe was done at times to conceal damage to the vessel or to enhance the opulence of the object more in fitting with the fashion of the time, or for both reasons. The British Royal Collection includes many such examples and at times the magnificent ormolu mounts cost more than the Chinese porcelain it embellished.
A jar and cover, similarly decorated, is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (inv. n. 21.1081).
