CHINA, Qianlong period, 18th century - Lot 49

CHINA, Qianlong period, 18th century Rare enamel-on-copper snuffbox, probably produced in the imperial workshops of Peking, bottle-shaped, with rounded body and flattened profile, straight, thin neck flanked by two small tubular handles, featuring a polychrome enamel decoration of European women seated near rocks, lake landscapes appearing behind them, the scenes included in cartouches formed of leafy vines, the background decorated with peony flowers on a coral-colored background. White enamelled underside. The stopper is missing. Height: 6.5 cm Width: 4.5 cm (Significant wear in the enamel, missing parts). A true miniature masterpiece, our present snuffbox features a particularly popular decoration during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, that of European women portrayed in landscapes. With the enameller's ingenious use of decoration and space, as well as the precision of the painted decoration in vivid enamels, it bears witness to the high sophistication of the enamelling craftsmen in the imperial production workshops of this period. What's more, our model has an unusual and particularly original shape, based on the bottle-shaped "Touhu" flask vases with long, thin necks flanked by two long, tubular handles, used for the game of flêche by the Chinese elite, particularly members of the court.