Chinese cloisonné enamel jardinière with French ormolu mounts

The jardinière is mounted onto an ormolu (gilt bronze) base, which is decorated with beading and multi-lobed openwork patterns. This is set on four scrolled feet, with mythological beast heads. The jardinière's oval body is crafted from enamel, applied using the cloisonné technique. In this method, the enamel is filled into cells of space, created by soldering metal strips to the surface of the object. The body features beautiful blue, yellow, turquoise, green, red and white depictions of birds, perched on flowers. These are set against a royal blue ground, which is covered with fine gold geometric patterns. A black, yellow, white and red cloud-like band of ornament runs along the top of the jardinière body, and its neck is decorated with a navy meander. The piece is fitted with two scrolled ormolu handles, topped by miniature Chinese figures, wearing conical Asian rice hats. The mouth of the jardinière is crowned by an ormolu beaded band and a flared edge, composed of repeated multi-lobed, openwork motifs.

This jardinière is a truly exquisite piece of decorative art, composed of contrasting yet complementary elements. The blue blue cloisonné enamel body was crafted in China, then exported to France, where it was fitted with lustrous golden ormolu mounts.