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An ovoid-shaped Chinese Ming period porcelain jar painted in rich blue around the sides with two five-clawed dragons among clouds and with rocks and waves below. Round the shoulder a stylised shou (long life character) seems to grow out of the lotus scrol
East Meets West

Extraordinary Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Royal Collection

CHINA [ASIA]

Incense burner and cover

second half of eighteenth century

RCIN 26809

The colourful, patterned design of this incense burner was created by arranging copper wire over a metal base and then adding coloured glass paste to the intricate framework. When the piece was fired at a low temperature the glass re-fused in the shape of the copper patterns, achieving a lustrous decorative surface. This technique is known as cloisonné enamelling. Cloisonné was introduced to China from the Near East as early as the Tang period (618–906) and by the Qianlong period (1736–95), when this incense burner was made, a whole range of decorative effects had been perfected. The burner was presented to Queen Victoria (1819–19011) in 1896 by the Chinese Ambassador, Li Hongzhang, and later displayed at Osborne House.


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