Purple-ground Box with Bird-and-Flower Motif in Fencai Enamels

In the late Qing dynasty, the Empress Dowager Cixi controlled the court for a long period of time. Many people have heard stories of her sumptuous lifestyle and how she admired jadeite. Many do not realize, however, that the opulent porcelains with the mark Ta-ya Studio were made for her imperial use. These works with the Ta-ya Studio mark, though they follow the use of enamel colors from the High Qing, have an arrangement of colors that is even more striking. For example, violet was previously often used to paint patterns but not as a background color. However, this violet famille rose floral case boldly does so. Combined with the red flowers and green leaves, the colors are indeed quite striking and would indeed appear to echo the opulent lifestyle of the Empress Dowager Cixi.