Here comes an outstanding private collection of more than 85 Asian antiques. All items are genuine antiques, with full money back guarantee, and auctioned with NO RESERVE!

This is an outsized and certainly hard to find cloisonné gong with an incised bronze centrepiece. This unusual artwork is dating back to the 18th or early 19th century in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912). Set on a Blue of Jingtai background it features colourful decorations with pheasants, swallows, peony blossoms as well as other symbolist flora.

SPECIFICATIONS:
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China.

DATE: 18th or early 19th century / Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912).

MATERIAL / MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUE: Cloisonné enamel on bronze body. Bronze centrepiece - incised decoration to showside.

CONDITION: Good ORIGINAL as found condition with minor denting to the rims and some chips there as well. It took me about one hour to clean the backside and one third of the front (you can clearly see which section has been cleaned), and it is up to the winner of this auction to clean the remaining two thirds ;-) After the cleaning the colors of the cloisonné on the front become very crisp and shiny! NO RESTORATION! Please wait for all pictures to load, as they illustrate the condition very accurately. For more information about our condition reports, please see our terms of business, as stated in the grey section of this listing.

SIZE: Diameter is 20.2 inches. (szasia0809 169sz)

SHIPPING: Shipping cost within Europe (All 25 European Union countries, Israel and Switzerland) is US $ 68.50. Shipping cost to the USA and Canada is US $ 78.50 including professional packing (US / Canada customs and duties not included). Shipping cost to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand is US $ 88.50 including professional packing (customs and duties not included). Shipment cost to all other countries upon request. Insurance is required - please read our shipping terms stated in the grey section of this listing.

This wonderful Chinese gong dates back to the Qing period in the 18th or early 19th century and has a bronze body with intricate cloisonné work.

Set against a Blue of Jingtai background we find the depictions of swallows and pheasants amidst peonies, cherry blossoms and pine trees - all flora of highly symbolist meaning in China. The entire backside is adorned with magnificent peonies and stylized cloud-like blossoms at the rim. In the center of the showside is a bronze inset - the actual gong - that has a clear and sharp tone.

According to Chinese tradition, gongs came from the county of Hsi Yu in the western region, between Tibet and Burma. The gong is mentioned in writings during the early sixth century, in the time of Emperor Hsuan Wu (AD 500-516). Gongs are percussion instruments of either definite or indefinite pitch. In China, musical instruments are traditionally classified into "eight categories of sound" according to the material from which they are made - metal, stone, clay, skin, silk, wood, gourd, and bamboo.

Gongs are used in several ways - in processions the gong drives away evil spirits, announces departure aboard a ship, frightens the "celestial dog" during eclipses when it is about to devour the moon. It is the signal on the outbreak of fire, and in songs it marks the tune. In Buddhist temples the gong is beaten to call the attention of the spirits.

This particular kind of cloisonné is called the "Blue of Jingtai" as blue is the dominant colour adopted for enamelling and cloisonné became prevalent during the reign of Jingtai (1450 -1456) in the Ming dynasty. Owing to the brilliant colour and splendid designs, cloisonné has been highly appraised in China ever since.

Cloisonné is a traditional method of applying enamel to metal in which the design is first outlined on the surface using a metal wire. The space between the wires is then filled with enamel and fired to a glassy sheen.

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