Chinese Cloisonne Enamel Bottle Vase Chilong Dragons Lotus 8in Mid-20th Century Export

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Chinese cloisonne enamel bottle vase on a raised pedestal foot, unmarked. Measures 8 in H x 4.5 in W.

The … Read more Chinese cloisonne enamel bottle vase on a raised pedestal foot, unmarked. Measures 8 in H x 4.5 in W.

The belly carries a sky-blue reserve panel with intertwined archaic chilong dragons in gilt wire, set against a black ground with turquoise scrollwork. The decoration also includes lotus blossoms and ruyi bands, a gilt trumpet mouth, and a cobalt and turquoise pedestal foot with a turquoise enamel base.

Mid-century Chinese export cloisonne.

About cloisonne: Cloisonne takes its name from the French "cloison," meaning partition — thin metal wires are soldered onto a metal body to form tiny cells, each cell is filled with colored enamel paste, and the piece is fired again and again, then polished smooth so the gilded wires outline every motif like a line drawing. The technique reached its height in China under the Ming dynasty's Jingtai Emperor (r. 1450-1457), and Chinese cloisonne is still called "Jingtai lan" — Jingtai blue. The intertwined dragons on this vase are chilong, an archaic dragon form copied from ancient Chinese bronzes; the lotus stands for purity.

Packed for shipping: approx. 12 x 8 x 8 in, approx. 3 lb. See less