An unusual cricket cage and cover seal mark of Qianlong, of…
click the photo to enlarge
An unusual cricket cage and cover seal mark of Qianlong, of slender hexagonal form, the sides pierced with panels of dragons and foliate scrolls between bands of bats in low relief picked out in brown and gilding, reserved on a similated wood grain ground, the convex base on bracket feet and the cover pierced with a central 'shou' medallion, the turquoise glazed base inscribed in iron-red with a four-character mark, wood box, (2), 17 cm high

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.

    For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.

    Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.
  • Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A pair of Grainger Worcester vases, each flattened with reticulated reserve with raised gilt. One with old restoration. 16.5 cm high.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Pair of French brass World War I trench Art vases, polished embossed with tulips or poppies, each approx 23 cm high (2)

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Pair of French World War I brass trench Art vases decorated with a central panel of flowers, 29 cm high (2)

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Pair of World War I brass Trench art vases, Embossed Verdun 1917, each approx 28.5 cm high (2)

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.