I.87
Lotus in the Gourd

Inlaid traditional enamels on copper, with gold (cloisonné ); with a flat lip, flat foot, and flat foot rim; decorated with a continuous symmetrical design of Indian lotus beneath a neck band of formalized lingzhi, the foot engraved in regular script Qianlong nian zhi 乾隆年製 (‘Made in the Qianlong era’); the interior partly covered with blue enamel, the exterior exposed metal originally all gilt
Stopper: inlaid traditional enamels on copper with gold (cloisonné), with a matching design; original
Imperial, 1736 – 1795
Height (including original stopper in situ): 8.2 cm
Mouth/lip: 0.7/1.6 cm

Provenance:
Robert Kleiner, 2002