A CANTON ENAMEL ‘EUROPEAN SUBJECT’ BOX AND COVER DEPICTING SUSANNA AND THE ELDERS, QIANLONG PERIOD

Expert’s note:
The choice of two biblical scenes of seduction to be shown on the same object is unusual for canton enamel. The stories of Susanna and the Elders as well as Joseph and Potiphar’s wife deal with the same subject: a lust-filled pursuer, Potiphar’s wife and the Elders, and an unwilling victim, Joseph and Susanna. Both stories end with the subsequent redemption of the victims. In one story Susanna’s reputation is restored and the Elders are punished, and in the other Joseph is made second to the Pharaoh. Both tales were a frequent subject in 18th century European painting, but Susanna and the Elders was by far the more frequently visited subject.

China, 1736-1795. Of rectangular form, brightly enameled to the exterior of the cover with a scene of Susanna and the Elders, and to the interior with Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. The side panels are similarly decorated with landscape scenes with reoccurring figures wearing pink, blue, and yellow garments. The base with a puce-enameled depiction of a European town.


Provenance:
From a Portuguese private collection. The interior with three old collector’s labels, ‘64,’ ‘30E,’ and ‘No. 179.’

Condition:
Condition commensurate with age, showing expected old wear and manufacturing irregularities, minor losses with associated old repairs, fine cracks, and light scratches. The colors still crisp and fresh, thus displaying remarkably well.

Weight: 145.6 g
Dimensions: Width 7.3 cm


According to the Book of Daniel
, two Babylonian elders spied on Susanna while she was bathing in a garden. The two elders threatened Susanna by falsely claiming that she met a young man alone in the garden. Susanna was arrested and then saved by Daniel who questioned the elders and prevented the death of the innocent Susanna.


Literature comparison:

A related snuff box is illustrated by Spink & Son, The Minor Arts of China II, London, 1985, pl. 163. See also a box exhibited by John Sparks Ltd. and illustrated by Michael Gillingham, Chinese painted enamels: an exhibition held in the Department of Eastern Art, Ashmolean Museum Oxford, 1978, p. 22, no. 15.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 27 February 2013, lot 421
Price: GBP 5,625 or approx.
EUR 10,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Canton enamel ‘European subject’ box and cover, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and European subject motifs. Note the size (7.3 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 18 January 2017, lot 392
Price: USD 12,500 or approx.
EUR 14,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A painted enamel European subject snuff box, Qianlong period
Expert remark: Compare the related form and manner of painting with similar facial features. Note the size (7.6 cm).




乾隆廣州琺瑯《蘇珊娜和長老》蓋盒


中國，1736-1795 年。 矩形形狀，封面外部有明亮的琺瑯，描繪了意大利巴洛克藝術家阿爾泰米西婭·真蒂萊斯基於1610年創作的一幅繪畫作品《蘇珊娜和長老》，該幅繪畫展示了兩名男子偷窺蘇珊娜洗澡。盒內繪有約瑟夫和波提乏的妻子。 盒子側面四壁同樣裝飾有歐洲風景，同一個人物在不同的場景裏穿著同樣的顔色如粉色、藍色和黃色的衣服。底座上深褐色琺瑯繪有歐洲小鎮的圖案。


來源：
葡萄牙私人收藏，盒内有三個舊收藏標籤“64”、“30E”和“179“。

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損和製造不規則、輕微損失和相應的修補、細裂紋和輕微劃痕。顏色仍然清晰。

重量：145.6克
尺寸：寬 7.3 厘米


文獻比較：

一件相近的鼻煙盒，見 Spink & Son，《The Minor Arts of China II》，倫敦，1985年，圖163。一件盒，見John Sparks Ltd.和Michael Gillingham，《Chinese painted enamels: an exhibition held in the Department of Eastern Art》，阿什莫林博物館，1978年，頁22，編號15。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦邦翰斯，2013年2月27日，lot 421
價格：GBP 5,625（相當於今日
EUR 10,000
）
描述：十八世紀歐洲人廣東琺瑯彩蓋盒
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形和歐洲人主題。請注意尺寸(7.3厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2017年1月18日，lot 392
價格：USD 12,500（相當於今日
EUR 14,000
）
描述：乾隆時期歐洲人琺瑯彩鼻煙盒
專家評論：比較相近的外形和繪畫風格，以相似的臉部表情。請注意尺寸(7.6厘米)。