AN UNUSUAL SMALL CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL DISH, MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

拍品描述

AN UNUSUAL SMALL CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL DISH, MING DYNASTY (1368-1644) The small dish is worked in cloisonné enamel, of shallow circular form with a broad, gently sloping well and gilt-metal rim. Its surface is dominated by a luminous turquoise-blue ground, a colour closely associated with early Chinese cloisonné enamel, against which the wire-outlined ornament is clearly articulated. The restrained scale gives the piece an intimate quality, while the broad border and central roundel create a balanced, medallion-like composition. The interior is centred by a circular panel of flowering scrolls, the blossoms picked out in blue, red and white enamel among curling green foliage. The design is enclosed by a narrow blue line, beyond which the well is left comparatively open, allowing the central decoration to sit with clarity within the form. On the reverse, the border is decorated with a continuous band of scrolling flowers and leaves, the ornament arranged in a rhythmic sequence around the outer wall. The dish was intended as a small luxury vessel, its shallow form suitable for presentation or display within an elite domestic or ritual setting. The use of gilt-metal edging defines the profile and protects the enamelled surface, while the circular format allows the floral scrollwork to be read both as decoration and as a symbolically charged motif associated with abundance, continuity and cultivated taste. Cloisonné enamel reached a high level of technical and decorative refinement in China during the Ming dynasty, when objects of this type were valued for their brilliant colour, durable surface and close association with courtly and devotional environments. The turquoise ground, scrolling floral ornament and clear compartmentalised structure are characteristic features of Ming enamel work, combining decorative richness with a disciplined formal arrangement. This unusual small dish is a refined Ming cloisonné enamel object, distinguished by its compact form, clear floral design and the quiet strength of its turquoise ground. Diameter: 19.5 cm

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