Pair of Chinese Porcelain pierced miniature lanterns, 18th century

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Unusual pair of Chinese Porcelain miniature lanterns, or potpourri vases, the hexagonal form with finely pierced honeycomb openings, the flared lip with internal twisted loop handle, each facet brightly enamelled in translucent green, rose, yellow, and blue.
Qing Dynasty,
18th century.

8cm high, 7cm wide

An example in ‘Chinese Pottery & Porcelain’ (R.L.Hobson, London,1915) pl 114 illustrates an example in the Cumberpatch Collection, famille verte enamels and mounted in a later stand. It has delicate porcelain chain links suspend from a crosspiece – our examples probably followed the same design. Their example dates to about 1720, ours probably shortly after.

They also identify it as a scented flower holder’, or a potpourri, another possible use for these interesting items.

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