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Kangxi

Antique Chinese & Japanese Porcelain
European Ceramics & Works of Art

Canton Enamel Shell-Shaped Box & Cover, Qianlong (1735-1796)

Ref: W299

Archive item - not for sale

Canton enamel shell-shaped box & cover, Qianlong (1735-1796), decorated to the lid with forget me nots, peony and yellow iris in delicate enamels, the inside cover with a trailing gourd amongst flowers, seed pods and flying insects. SOLD

Dimensions:

Diameter: 7.5cm. (3 in.)

Condition:

Restored

Notes:

Shells have appeared in Chinese culture for centuries, with myths including that of the ‘shen’, a large shellfish that could shapeshift. However, it is likely that shell motifs and designs were also a popular choice for export items due to their long symbolic ties with both Christian pilgrimage and the feminine principle in classical antiquity.

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