Object Description
Pair of exceptionally large Chinese enamel vases
Chinese, early 20th Century
Height 265cm, diameter 86cm
Standing almost three metres tall, the vases in this pair are truly palatial. The monumental vases, wrought from cloisonné enamel, are superb expressions of 20th century Chinese craftsmanship. Each vase features a bulbous body, concave neck, and spreading foot profusely adorned with cloisonné enamel decoration. The decorative motifs are distinctly traditional in character: pheasants and cranes stand within landscapes bountiful with peony and chrysanthemums, while traditional symbols (ruyi heads as well as the components of the Eight Treasures) complete the decorative scheme. The rich blue enamel ground of the vases provides a beautiful background for the cloisonné designs.
The vases are supported on carved wooden stands.