Famille verte porcelain canister and cover
彩繪花鳥蓋罐

Kangxi period, 1662–1722, China; mounted in silver and stamped with the poinçon: 1722–1726 , Colombe du Saint Esprit, France
清康熙 1662-1722 中國 ; 鑲銀并帶法國"聖靈之鴿“(1722-1726)印記

Height: 18 cm, 7.1 inches
高18釐米

The cylindrical canister rests on an unglazed chamfered foot – its base recessed and glazed. A classic famille verte naturalistic scene decorates the sides – with birds resting on flowering trees amongst rockwork, between two bands of flower heads against a stippled ground. The circular flat topped cover is painted with a camellia – the large single flower centered within a double red circle; a band of decoration at the cover’s side is divided into four simple naturalistic panels, interspersed by a stippled floral ground design. A simple French silver collar secures the canister and cover – its central band worked with various charming decorative designs, each divided by a diamond motif against a punched and stippled ground; this echoes the background decoration on the borders of the Chinese porcelain. The silver is marked with the poinçon: Colombe du Saint Esprit (the French hallmark: ‘Dove of the Holy Spirit’) on both the cover and container – dating the mounts to between 1722 and 1726.