Painted Enamel Begonia Flower Basket
The Painted Enamel Begonia Flower Basket, made of copper, is shaped like a four-petal begonia flower. Its handle is embellished with flower patterns. The outside of the basket features yellow enamel glaze, painted with blooming pink peonies and dotted with blue or pinkish-purple lotus flowers, which symbolize "peace and dignity". The inside is coated with azure glaze, and the bottom adopts white glaze and carries the mark "Made upon the decree of Emperor Kangxi".
Painted enameling is a technique originating in France and mainly used on copper objects. It was introduced to China via Guangzhou Customs in the early days of Emperor Kangxi's reign, and then to the royal court in the late Kangxi era . Then, the royal court's firing technology of painted enamel wares remained imperfect, so experienced craftsmen from Europe and Guangzhou were invited to give instructions.
Emperor Qianlong asked craftsmen to make imitations of this flower basket. The blueprints of some objects were sent to France for production, and some imitations were manufactured at Guangzhou Customs. Today, artifacts modeled after this flower basket by craftsmen in France and Guangzhou Customs can be found in the collection of the Palace Museum.
After painted enameling was introduced to the Qing imperial palace, court craftsmen gradually grasped and improved the technique, which they used on the surface of porcelain, glass, and other objects.
画珐琅海棠式花篮
画珐琅海棠式花篮，铜胎，为四瓣海棠式，提梁上饰花卉纹。篮身外侧以黄色珐琅釉为底，绘盛开的粉色大朵牡丹，间或饰蓝色、藕荷色小荷花，寓意“祥和富贵”。篮内侧施天蓝色釉，篮底施白釉，有“康熙御制”款识。
画珐琅技法源于法国，主要使用在铜胎器物上，在康熙早期由粤海关进入中国，在康熙晚期进入宫廷。当时宫廷画珐琅器烧造技术不高，还特请欧洲及广州画珐琅匠师参与指导。乾隆皇帝还曾将此花篮作为范式，要求照样仿制。有的器物画样被送到法国制作，也有的在粤海关完成仿制。如今，法国和粤海关仿制的同款花篮，故宫博物院都有收藏。
清代宫廷自接触画珐琅后，逐渐掌握制造技术并不断精进，还将画珐琅技术运用在陶瓷、玻璃等器物表面，体现了中国自古以来的融合创新能力。
