Pair Miniature Chinese Canton Enamel Vases, Rooster and Peony, Yellow Ground, 19th C

A pair of miniature Chinese Canton painted enamel bottle vases, with globular bodies and tall narrow necks widening gently towards the mouth, made in Canton (Guangzhou), late 19th century. The vases are copper, decorated in painted enamels, with gilt mouth and foot rims. They were conceived as a pair: the compositions are mirror images, yet each vase is painted by hand and differs in small details.

The yellow ground of the neck and body is filled with scrolling lotus stems, acanthus leaves and flowers. The body bears two circular reserves in pink rococo frames. One shows a rooster beside a pierced Taihu rock beneath a tree, among chrysanthemums; the other shows pink and blue peonies. Stylised baoxianghua flowers are painted between the reserves, a band of ruyi lappets encircles the foot, and a pink band with rosettes runs below the mouth. The rooster beside a rock is an auspicious rebus meaning great good fortune in the home. The peony symbolises wealth and nobility, the chrysanthemum longevity, and the lotus purity.

The painting is executed with a care rarely found at this small size. The rooster's plumage is worked in individual strokes and stippling, and the scaled wing, the leaf veins and the chrysanthemum stamens are drawn with the finest brush. Close comparisons combining this quality of painting with such a miniature scale are scarce.

This is classic Canton painted enamel of the Qing period: hand painting in famille rose enamels over a white enamel ground on copper. The reserves in pink rococo frames on a yellow ground show the European influence characteristic of Canton enamels made for export. The mouth and foot rims are gilded in a warm, rich tone with the satin lustre of traditional fire gilding. The wear is natural and consistent across all materials: the gilding is rubbed at points of contact, the exposed copper has darkened, and the bases show fine scratches with ingrained patina. The yellow ground and the blue enamel show traces of hand firing. The vases are unmarked, as is usual for export Canton enamels.

Dimensions. Vase 1: height 9 cm; diameter 5.4 cm; weight 71 g. Vase 2: height 9 cm; diameter 5.2 cm; weight 65 g.

Condition: excellent. The only defect is a small chip to the enamel on the base of one vase at the edge of the foot rim, shown in the photographs. No restoration or retouching revealed under UV light. The wear to the gilding of the rims is natural and consistent with age. Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance. Shipping costs include handling, packaging and postage.