Copper ewer with painted enamel decoration

Painted with a cloud-collar pattern around the neck and heart-shaped panels around the lower body, this ewer evokes decorative styles of the Yuan and Ming periods, while its bright-yellow enamel alludes somewhat to imperial works. With a special shape designed to appeal to Islamic tastes, this ewer was produced in Guangzhou for export to the Middle East. After being exported from China, the ewer was decorated with a pewter cover. This kind of ewer often forms a set of washing vessel together with a painted enamel basin and a matching cover.

The production of enamelled metalware in Guangdong province started in late Kangxi period as a result of Guangzhou becoming a trading port. These products not only served the needs of the imperial court, but also the markets in Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and the Islamic world.