Pair of Mid 20th Century Pair Chinese Cloisonne Enamel Bottle Vases Peony Bird Lotus Black Ground

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Offered as a pair, sold together: two matching Chinese cloisonné enamel bottle vases in mid-century style export ware. Each vase … Read more Offered as a pair, sold together: two matching Chinese cloisonné enamel bottle vases in mid-century style export ware. Each vase measures 5 inches high by 3.5 inches wide and is unmarked. Against a black ground, gilt cloud-scroll wirework frames large pink peonies with green leaves, orange lotus blossoms, and a small blue bird. Turquoise ruyi-head bands decorate the shoulder and neck, with gilt rims and turquoise enamel bases.

About cloisonné: Cloisonné 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 petal and leaf like a line drawing. The technique reached its height in China under the Ming dynasty's Jingtai Emperor (r. 1450–1457), and Chinese cloisonné is still called "Jingtai lan" — Jingtai blue — after his reign and its signature blues. On this pair, the big pink peony is the "king of flowers," a symbol of wealth and honor; the lotus stands for purity; and the little bird among the blossoms is a classic wish for happiness.

Please see all photos for details. Sold as a pair only. See less