17th century|Of circular form, vividly decorated on the domed cover with three taotie masks around a stylised archaistic phoenix at the centre, the exterior of the box similarly decorated with taotie masks, all reserved on a bright turquoise ground. |7.6cm (3in) diam. (2).|十七世紀 銅胎掐絲琺瑯仿古饕餮面虁紋印盒The present cloisonné enamel seal paste box and cover is rare for its early date introducing the archaic bronze inspired design of taotie masks in the decorative scheme of cloisonné enamel wares. This design signified the wish to emulate the virtues of antiquity and became particularly popular during the reign of the Qianlong emperor. See for example the design of taotie masks and chi dragons used on a cloisonné enamel vase, early Qing dynasty; and see also a seal paste box and cover, Qianlong mark and of the period, illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Enamels 2, Beijing, 2011, pls.10 and 253.