ENAMELS
Note: In mid-19th century Britain, the term ‘enamels’ was used to describe both enamelled metal and ceramics. The editor has tried to restrict this section to enamelled metal, but the limited textual evidence in many cases makes absolute determination on this point difficult.
0111 The following notice is one of many commentaries on the size of French plunder at the Yuanmingyuan that appeared after the 1860 invasion:
‘China–THE FRENCH BOOTY.–The following appears in the Journal du Havre:–‘With regard to the booty made in China, inestimable conquests, in an artistical and historical point of view, are spoken of. The part acquired by France would alone suffice for the formation of an immense Chinese museum. Among other things mentioned is a clock, of wonderful workmanship, with carved figures representing the seasons; all the wardrobe of the Empress of China, &c. There has also fallen to the lot of the French an edition of Confucius, which belonged to the celebrated Emperor Kag-Di, the Napoleon I of the Chinese, and having notes in his handwriting. Among the other objects found in the summer palace, and which are in parts reserved for France, is an elephant of natural size, in gilt and enamelled bronze, and most magnificent.’ (1 January 1861, Kentish Gazette, p. 8.)
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0057 The following notice appeared in the summer of 1861:
‘Beautiful old Japan Lacquer, collected by R. Fortune, Esq., and Splendid Enamels from the Summer Palace.
MESSRS. CHRISTIE, MANSON, and WOODS respectfully give notice that they will SELL, by AUCTION, at their Great Rooms, 8, King Street, St. James's Square, S.W., on MONDAY, July 1, at one precisely.
A valuable Consignment of Beautiful Objects of Ancient Gold and other JAPAN LACQUER WORK, received from Jeddo, collected in Japan by that well-known connoisseur, Robert Fortune, Esq. After which will be sold several splendid ancient enamels, taken by an officer from the Summer Palace at Pekin, and a magnificent old porcelain bottle.’ (24 June 1861, The Morning Post, p. 8.)
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0056 The catalogue for the Bristol Exhibition of Industrial & Ornamental Art includes a section titled ‘Enamels’, which states ‘Of Eastern enamels, Sir Hope Grant’s case affords several important illustrations. They belong to the division termed Cloisonné, and lines of thin metal work will be seen interesting the enamel and forming boundaries between the colours and the subjects.’ (p. 22) On top of the case was ‘a small Elephant,—a fine and interesting example of Chinese cloisonné enamel. Also close by a Jar, beautiful in design and ornamentation.’ (J. Beavington Atkinson, Handbook to the Bristol Exhibition of Industrial & Ornamental Art, Held by the Fine Arts' Academy Queens Road, 1861, p. 23.) The catalogue further states that one vitrine contained: ‘an unrivalled collection from China and Japan, taken in great measure during the late war, at the taking of the Summer Palace, Pekin’, which included, among other items, ‘several valuable examples of chinese cloisonné enamel, already mentioned under the head ‘Enamels.’ (Atkinson, p. 29.) In another room was ‘a fine example of Chinese Enamel, a Candlestick taken from the Summer Palace, Pekin.’ (Atkinson, p. 39.)
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0107 J.B. Waring wrote in his publication on the Great Exhibition of 1862, in London, that among the enamels in the Chinese Court was ‘a great incense burner ... upwards of four feet in height’, from the Summer Palace, which had been lent by China veteran Lieutenant Charles Henry Cox. (J.B. Waring, 1863. Masterpieces of industrial art & sculpture at the International Exhibition, 1862. London: Day & Sons. Vol. 1, Pl. 35; S. Weber, 2011. The reception of Chinese cloisonné enamel in Europe and America, In: B. Quette, ed. Cloisonné: Chinese enamels from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. New York: Bard Graduate Center, p. 190.) See also 0108 for other enamels in the Chinese Court.
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0108 J.B. Waring also mentioned in his publication on the Great Exhibition of 1862 that among the enamels in the Chinese Court were ‘magnificent vases’ from the Summer Palace lent by Lady Michel, wife of Gen. Sir John Michel. (J.B. Waring, 1863. Masterpieces of industrial art & sculpture at the International Exhibition, 1862. London: Day & Sons. Vol. 1, Pl. 35.) See also 0107 for other enamels in the Chinese Court.
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0006 在1862年，勋爵 Wharncliffe 于 Sheffield 美术学校 年度展 中 展出 了 景泰蓝 容器。在 开幕式 中 他 昨 一 个 关 于 亚洲 美工 的 讲 花 并且 他 提到 了 容器 : '精美 珐琅 铜器 在 北京 圆明园 被 取走 了，然后 被 我 最小 的 弟弟 带 到 了 这个 国家。他 是 勋爵 埃尔金 的 工作人员。（一八六一年七月二十六日, Western Daily Press, 第二页。）
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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0060 A review of the Aldershot Camp Exhibition in 1864 noted a large number of Asian spoils among the display: ‘Most of these works are of great beauty, many—such as the enamelled bronzes from the Emperor’s Summer Palace at Pekin—of considerable value.’ (9 July 1864, Lancaster Gazette, p. 3.)
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0059 The Frome Industrial Exhibition of 1866 featured: ‘a massive “brazier” of beautifully enameled metal, taken from the summer palace at Pekin, and contributed by the Marquis of Bath.’ (15 September 1866, Bristol Mercury, p. 3.)
中文：
1866 年 Frome 工艺 画展 有 ‘一个 从 北京 的 圆明园 被 掠 夺 的
硕大 的 精美 金属 珐琅 “火盆”.’＊它 由 巴斯 侯爵 捐献 .
＊或者 是 香炉. (15 September 1866, Bristol Mercury, p. 3.)
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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0141 On 24 March 1870, Messrs. Christie, Manson, and Woods offered for sale:
‘A magnificent collection of Ancient CHINESE ENAMELS, the property of a gentleman, and recently exhibited at the South Kensington Museum: consisting of about 40 pieces, many of them of unusual size, and comprising fine incense burners, vases, beakers, candlesticks, dishes, basins, and cups, which were taken from the Summer Palace at Pekin...’ (14 March 1870, Morning Post, p. 8.) 26 February 2016.
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0153 The Royal Polytechnic Exhibition at Glasgow in 1871 featured an Indian Department. A reviewer noted there: ‘ONE PAIR of VERY RARE INDIAN VASES, nearly 4 feet high, made of Copper; Enamelled and Beautifully Painted. These are said, at one time, to have been in the Summer Palace at Pekin.’ (12 December 1871, Greenock Advertiser, p. 1.) 26 February 2016.
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0104 Lord Wharncliffe (1827–99) lent two large cisterns to the South Kensington Museum enamels exhibition in 1874, both ‘gilt metal, covered with cloisonné enamel of dark blue, with bold designs of flowers. Chinese; from the Summer Palace’. (Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education, 1875. Catalogue of the special loan exhibition of enamels on metal held at the South Kensington Museum in 1874. London: Chiswick Press, pp. 133, nos 1087, 1088.) See also: 0105, 0106.
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0105 The catalogue of the South Kensington Museum enamels show of 1874 includes, among other Summer Palace loans, the following entry: ‘JAR: of cloisonné enamel on copper. It is surrounded by a cordage frame in metal, with two ring handles. Old Chinese. Date 1454. From the Summer Palace. Lent by Lieut.-Gen J.H. Gascoigne.’ (Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education, 1875. Catalogue of the special loan exhibition of enamels on metal held at the South Kensington Museum in 1874. London: Chiswick Press, pp. 131, no. 1065.) See also 0104, 0106.
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0106 The catalogue of the South Kensington Museum enamels show of 1874 includes, among other Summer Palace loans, the following six entries for Thomas Charles Bruce:
1169, 1170. TWO ALTARS: on shaped legs, covered with cloisonné enamel, in elaborate designs. Chinese. These and the following six pieces are from the Summer Palace of Pekin.
See photographs Lent by the Hon. T. C. Bruce.
1171. TRIPOD VASE: covered, with dragon handles, cloisonné enamel. chinese.
Lent by the Hon. T. C. Bruce.
1172. VASE: in the form of a Kylin, the head and mane winged. Richly decorated with cloisonné enamel. Chinese.
Lent by the Hon. T. C. Bruce.
1173. BULBOUS VASE: with handles, cloisonné enamel with large flowers. Chinese.
Lent by the Hon. T. C. Bruce.
1174. VASE: with contracted neck and foot; cloisonné enamel. Chinese.
Lent by the Hon. T. C. Bruce.
1175. ANGULAR INCENSE BURNER: on four feet, with Kylin on the cover. Cloisonné enamel. Chinese.
Lent by the Hon. T. C. Bruce.
1176. POLYGONAL DISH: on four feet, cloisonné enamel. Chinese.
Lent by the Hon. T. C. Bruce.
(Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education, 1875. Catalogue of the special loan exhibition of enamels on metal held at the South Kensington Museum in 1874. London: Chiswick Press, pp. 141–2, nos 1069–76.) See also 0104, 0105.
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0161 In May 1875 Messrs. Christie, Manson, and Woods offered for sale the A.B. Mitford collection. Among the lots was a ‘pair of birds of Chinese cloisonné enamel with gold threads, from the Summer Palace at Pekin...’ (3 May 1875, Morning Post, p. 8.) 26 February 2016.
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0164 In 1875, the Prince and Princess Charles of Prussia visited the Baron Charles de Rothschild at his villa in Günthersburg. A society column reported that among his art collection were specimens of rare old Chinese enamel (cloisonné) from the summer palace at Pekin’. (22 July 1875, Western Daily Press, p. 3.)
In 1887, The New York Times reprinted a story from the Pall Mall Gazette:
‘The valuable art collection of the late Baron von Rothschild, of Frankfort-on-Main, has been divided among the various members of the Rothschild family--partly by agreement and partly by lot. This collection, which was kept at Gunthersburg, is said to have been valued at some 40,000,000 marks. It included a celebrated table service, whose value was 700,000 gulde.’ (23 January 1887, The New York Times, p. 5.) 26 February 2016.
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0168 When an art exhibition took place in St. George’s Hall at Bradford in 1874 numerous cloisonné pieces appeared, including ‘superb bottles from the Summer Palace of Pekin’. (9 April 1874, Leeds Mercury, p. 5.) The Bradford Observer, in its review of the exhibition, stated that the enamels were displayed in what was called the ‘Oriental Room’: ‘Many of the objects in this room are from the Summer Palace of Pekin and are as distinctively Chinese in their design and execution as they well can be.’ (11 April 1874, Bradford Observer, p. 5.) 26 February 2016.
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0171 At the Ledbury Loan Exhibition of 1874 was a ‘large collection of Eastern curiosities, many of them of great rarity and beauty.’ Among these was: ‘a specimen of Chinese enamel from the Summer Palace, Pekin.’ (8 August 1874, Worcestershire Chronicle, p. 7.) 26 February 2016.
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0175 In 1877, Messrs. Rendell and Symons offered for auction the household furniture of Wentworth Buller. Among the contents were: ‘China and Japanese Cloisonné enamels, some of the former pieces having been taken from the Summer Palace at Pekin.’ (11 May 1877, Western Times, p. 1.) 26 February 2016.
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0183 Messrs. Towers, Son, and Williamson, offered for auction in the summer of 1880: ‘curious and rare vases and bowls enamelled on brass (from the Emperor’s Summer Palace at Pekin)...’ from a residence at No. 22, Holland Park-gardens. (17 July 1880, London Evening Standard, p. 7.) 26 February 2016.
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0186 When the Mechanics’ Institute of Ilkeston launched an art exhibition at the Town Hall in 1881, Sir Henry Wilmot sent ‘some splendid specimens of Chinese work, including a large and valuable cloisome [sic] vase from the Summer Palace, Pekin’. (27 December, Nottingham Evening Post, p. 3.) 26 February 2016.
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0187 When Christie, Manson, and Woods sold the collections of Hamilton Palace in 1882, a reporter for the London Daily News remarked that:
‘A pair of incense burners from the Summer Palace at Pekin is distinctly remarkable... ’ (14 June 1882, London Daily News, p. 3.) The Manchester Courier reported that ‘A pair of incense-burners, formed as grotesque animals of dark and pale-blue cloisonné enamel, partly gilt, on oblong shaped pedestals of the same, with serpents, 21in. high, from the Summer Palace, Pekin..’ sold for 160 guineas to William Wareham. (20 June 1882, Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, p. 7.) 26 February 2016.
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0198 Messrs. Baker and Sons conducted a sale of ‘furniture and effects’ at Greenwood Lodge, Thames Ditton, in 1886. Among the offerings was ‘a fine old Cloissonée enamel vase, taken from the Summer Palace at Pekin’. (2 January 1886, London Evening Standard, p. 8.) 26 February 2016.
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0199 When the Aberdeen Winter Exhibition was held in the Schoolhill Galleries, 1886, one reviewer remarked that the collection of Asian art was:
‘enriched by some very fine examples of Chinese enamels of the best periods, lent by Mr. Patrick H. Chambers, advocate, Aberdeen, and formerly belonging to the Summer Palace at Pekin. The opportunity of seeing so rare a set of enamels is one that does not often occur, and it should be taken advantage of by all lovers of Eastern Art.’ (16 January 1886, Aberdeen Free Press, p. 5.) 26 February 2016.
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0201 When a bazaar to aid the Church of Ireland Training College took place in 1886, a newspaper reported that among the displays: ‘An exquisite group of Chinese enamels, taken in the sacking of the Summer Palace in Pekin, comes from Major Warren’. (4 May 1886, Dublin Daily Express, p. 5.) 26 February 2016.
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0203 In 1886 it was reported that at the Sheffield Museum: ‘In the case with Japanese objects is a large vase or bowl of old Chinese work, taken from the Summer Palace, Pekin. It is of gilt copper, the outside decorated with a large design of water plants, other flowers and birds in cloisonné enamel of vivid colours...’ (27 May 1886, Sheffield Daily Telegraph, p. 3.) 26 February 2016.
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0204 In the summer of 1886 the Leighton Buzzard Observer reprinted a review of the National Art Treasures Exhibition at Folkestone in The Queen, which reported: ‘There are two fine examples of Chinese cloisonné enamel from the Summer Palace of Pekin’. (10 August 1886, Leighton Buzzard Observer and Linslade Gazette, p. 2.) 26 February 2016.
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0205 When Messrs. Artingstall and Hind auctioned the art collection of Mr. Joseph Bevan, F.R.G.S., among the lots was ‘a pair of Cloisonne enamel vases, from the Summer Palace at Pekin’, which sold for £98 14s. (9 October 1886, Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, p. 3.) 26 February 2016.
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0206 In 1887 the Leeds Mercury reported that, for the Lincolnshire Fine Art Exhibition, ‘Major Kennedy, of James-street has offered ... a scent vase (metal enamel) brought from the Summer Palace at Pekin by the late General Gordon, C.B. and given by that heroic soldier to Mrs. Kennedy’s family.’ (29 April 1887, Leeds Mercury, p. 3.) 26 February 2016.
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0227 Messrs. Branch & Leete advertised for sale in 1891 the late Enoch Harvey’s ‘highly valuable and interesting Collection of early specimens of Chinese and Japanese Pottery and Porcelain’ which included ‘some very fine early Chinese Cloisonné enamels, from the Summer Palace, Pekin.’ The sale took place at the Hanover Gallery, Liverpool. (9 January 1891, Liverpool Mercury, p. 4.) 26 February 2016.
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0244 In 1895 W. Crake, Hon. Secretary of the Hastings Museum Association, wrote to the editor of the Hastings and St. Leonards Observer in order to acknowledge supporters of the Hastings and St. Leonards Museum and concluded:
‘The public will be interested to hear that Mr. Ashby, C.B., of Little Park, Battle, will lend an interesting collection of enamels and embroidery, from the Summer Palace, Pekin, to the Museum. Mr. Ashby, C.B., was in the staff of Admiral Sir James Grant, at the taking of Pekin, in 1860.’ (12 October 1895, Hastings and St. Leonards Observer, p. 7.) [0244 also listed under textiles.] 26 February 2016.
In 1896 the Hastings and St Leonards Observer recorded the annual meeting of the Hastings Museum Association. According to their report, Mr. Crake, noted that in 1895 ‘a remarkable collection of enamels, bronzes, and State robes from the Summer Palace at Pekin was lent by Mr. Ashby, C.B.’ for display in the museum. (22 August 1896, Hastings and St Leonards Observer, p. 6.) [0246 also listed under textiles and metalwork] 26 February 2016.
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0245 In 1896, Messrs. Garrod, Turner and Son offered for auction the contents of the Red House at Ufford, property of the late Colonel Campbell Clark. A report on the sale showed that ‘an enamelled and brass lotos [sic] shrine and an enamelled and brass candlestick from the Summer Palace, Pekin, made £11 10s. and £5 respectively... ’ (23 May 1896, The Ipswich Journal, p. 5.) 26 February 2016.
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0250 In early 1898 the Western Daily Press carried a notice regarding the sale of the late Lord Rosmead’s art collection, which included: ‘some beautiful Chinese vases from the summer palace at Pekin, one of which is of ancient cloisonné enamel.’ (24 January 1898, Western Daily Press, p. 3.) 26 February 2016.
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0251 In 1898 the Glasgow Herald reported on an auction at Messrs. Christie, Manson, and Woods. Among the lots ‘an altar set of old cloissonne enamel from the summer Palace, Pekin, brought £115...’ (2 July 1898, Glasgow Herald, p. 7.) [editor: capitalization of ‘summer Palace, Pekin’ as it was in the original.] 26 February 2016.
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0058 A cloisonné enamel dish in the collection of the National Museums of Scotland is given Summer Palace provenance on the NMS website. The well shows branches of fruit on a turquoise ground with scolling tendrils, within a floral border, and is dated by the museum to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1643 AD). (Museum reference: A.1933.278. )
May be viewed online at: www.nms.ac.uk
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0061 A cloisonné vessel on the British Museum website is associated with the Summer Palace, Beijing. The vessel body shows dragons with lotus blossoms. It has upright gilt handles and three gilt elephant-head feet. The lid also shows lotus blossoms and is surmounted by a large gilt knop. The object was donated by A.W. Franks. Registration number: 1889,0507.23
May be viewed online at: www.britishmuseum.org
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0087 A ruyi sceptre in the Royal Collections, United Kingdom, is provenanced at the Summer Palace, Beijing. According to Royal Colections site, the sceptre was a gift to Queen Mary, Christmas 1922. Dated to the 18th century, it is decorated with cloisonné enamel, rose quartz and gilding, and it is set on a hardwood stand. (Inventory number: RCIN 11701.)
May be viewed online at: www.royalcollection.org.uk
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All material on this page, unless otherwise credited, was produced by Kate Hill, who asserts her authorship of the work. © Kate Hill, Yuanmingyuan Artefact Index, 2016.