Water vessel with dragon handles

This gilt-copper vessel is circular in form, with twin chi-dragon handles and three cloud-shaped feet. The rim is chased with lotus-petal and scrolling motifs, and the body is covered in bright sky-blue enamel with entwined lotus patterns. The exterior base bears a raised double-square mark reading ‘Made in the Qianlong period’. Water containers are traditional objects used by Chinese scholars to hold water for grinding ink. Cloisonné craftsmanship reached its peak during the Qianlong period, characterized by substantial body weight, full and rich gilding, bright enamel colours, and pure enamel quality.

This water container exhibits all these features and is a fine example of imperial cloisonné craftsmanship.