A Chinese Canton white ground enamel lidded jar dating from the 19th century. The bottom has a 4-character mark, and the jar features lotus roundels and floral motifs. Dimensions are: 15 1/2 inches tall X 8 1/2 inches in diameter, 39.37 cm X 21.59 cm. All measurements are approximate. Condition: Chipping, damage, repair, and overpainting especially to the lid, neck, and foot but also to the body. A reminder that all lots are sold as-is. We have sought to record the changes in the condition of this piece after its initial manufacture as diligently as possible; however, as stated in our terms, condition reports are statements of opinion and not representations or warranties. Oakridge Auction Gallery bears no responsibility for any error or omission. Provenance: From a private collection in California. Notes: Chinese painted enamel, or Canton enamel, is so named for the principal place of its manufacture, Canton. Introduced into China in the 18th century, probably by French missionaries, and accordingly is referred to by the Chinese as "foreign porcelain." This term is doubly appropriate in that much of it was produced expressly for export. Twice fired, most Canton enamel feature a white ground applied onto a copper base layer upon which the decorative designs are applied before the final firing secures them into place.This lidded jar is an excellent example of the Canton enamel technique. It features a classic white ground, mimicking ever-popular porcelain designs, with elaborate ornaments throughout. These designs are outlined faintly in black and filled in with a pale family of colored enamels resembling famille rose glaze palettes common on porcelains at the time. Intricate roundels of butterflies, leaves, vines, and flowers are evenly spaced around the jar and lid, tastefully arranged to avoid overcrowding. To Western audiences, it is almost baroque in its sensibilities, but to the Chinese art connoisseur, its patterns are familiar and appropriate. Its shape, too, is faithful to the tradition of Chinese porcelain, where it is called the "ginger jar" in English. In many respects, this piece refers to the artistic heritage occupied by porcelains, yet it is of a medium wholly different, one made of heavy, durable metals.銅胎畫琺瑯的出現要早於瓷胎畫琺瑯，為歐洲的畫琺瑯工藝，它在清康熙年間始傳於中國。此工藝自西方傳入後，便深受皇室的喜 愛，因此在內務府造辦處設立了琺瑯作，專門研制金屬胎畫畫琺 瑯。清代期間燒制出了一批批精美絕倫的銅胎畫琺瑯器，極具美學 價值。此蓋罐為銅胎，以畫琺瑯工藝裝飾器表，其短頸、削肩、鼓腹、底露銅胎。罐身為淺色地，蓋頂鑲一鎏金小圓鈕，圓鈕四周內圈繪以 紅色五蝠，外圈繪以各色花卉，寓意「五福臨門，吉祥如意」，淡 雅與富麗交織，別有一番滋味。蓋與瓶之間為子母口，密合穩當， 做工精細。頸部及腹部繪以纏枝花卉紋，花卉爭相盛開，枝葉蔓 蔓，肩部則以回紋相連，畫工精細，體現了清代纏枝花紋枝蔓彎 曲、布局繁密規整、極具圖案性的特點。罐底白地書紅色「乾隆年 制」楷書款。本件作品畫工獨特，工藝精湛，是一件值得收藏的佳 作。故宮博物院有一館藏藏品，編號故00119945(fig. 1)，清乾隆琺 瑯彩團錦花紋蓋罐。此琺瑯彩罐頂部鎏金，蓋緣處和底部都留有黃 色銅胎，罐體頸部與肩部連接處也有凸起造型，身上花紋是以團花 造型花紋為主紋飾，肩部及底部圈足外都以滿圈祥雲靈芝為紋飾。 此藏品與本件作品從紋飾結構，器型等方面來看，兩者極為相似， 應為同一時期產物。A similar example is currently housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing under accession number 00119945. High resolution photos can be found here.故宮博物院有一館藏藏品，編號故00119945(fig.1)，清乾隆琺瑯彩團錦花紋蓋罐。