Handpainted Green and Gold Porcelain Ashtray with Chinoiserie Smoking Motif

This small and exquisite Chinese Canton Qianlong period enamel square dish features cut corners and is beautifully decorated with a five-clawed pink dragon surrounded by 18 blue ruyi clouds against a vibrant yellow background. The design is accented by two branches of peaches (or similar fruit) and two branches of peach blossoms (or other fruit blossoms), all framed by an intricate seaweed pattern border. In Chinese symbolism, five-clawed dragons are reserved exclusively for emperors, as the number five is considered sacred, representing the five elements. In contrast, four-clawed dragons are associated with kings, princes, and high-ranking officials, while three-clawed dragons are designated for the merchant class. This piece is crafted from enamel on brass, dating back to the Qianlong period (1736–1795), and is characterized by its hexagonal form and the distinctive Famille Rose palette, often referred to as "Canton enamel." Chinese painted enamel, commonly known as Canton enamel, derives its name from its principal manufacturing location, Canton. This technique was introduced to China in the 18th century, likely by French missionaries, and is inspired by the enameling techniques developed in Limoges, France around 1470. It is referred to in China as "foreign porcelain," suitable since much of it was made for export. During the 18th and 19th centuries, there was significant demand in the West for Chinese porcelain dinner sets...

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