A FINE PAIR OF CLOISONNE ENAMEL BRONZE BOWLS Jiajing mark and probably of the period, decorated on a rich blue ground with cranes and motifs. 10 cm diameter. Note: ? Two examples in the Mus?e des Arts D?coratifs, Paris, comprising a cloisonn? enamel 'cranes' bowl and a cloisonn? enamel octagonal 'scholars' box and cover, illustrated by B.Quette, ibid., nos.38 and 39. Among the Ming dynasty emperors, the Jiajing emperor was particularly fervent in his Daoist beliefs. The decoration on the present ewer is both dynamic and evocative, while the shape of the ewer gives it a real presence. Its high quality combined with the themes of Daoism and Immortality would have made it most appropriate for the celebration of the birthday of the Jiajing emperor. The crane-and-cloud motif are symbols of Immortality, similar decorative motifs can also be found on Imperial lacquer wares, such as a circular lacquer 'crane and clouds' box and cover, Jiajing mark and period, in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2006, no.137. See also a related small cloisonn? enamel 'fish' jar, Jiajing mark and period, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 2 April 2018, lot 3412.