Pair of jardinières and bases, one with a glass dome. A bow-fronted vessel, formed (no doubt in France) of Japanese lacquered wood panels set within a gilt-bronze frame, equipped with two end drop handles and four nut spray feet. In the front of RCIN 479.1, a curved, rectangular panel painted with a landscape in gold on black, partly in raised relief (togidashi), with figures looking over a stormy sea to pavilions under a pine tree, and two cranes flying overhead. RCIN 479.2 similarly formed and decorated, with the addition of a figure on a boat and a siege of cranes overhead. In the back, a plain black panel, and set in the top, a plate of black tôle peinte pierced with foliate patterns, from which rise three clumps of flowers, including narcissi and tulips, in enamelled Meissen porcelain. The top and base rim of the jardinière mounted in gilt bronze with a foliate-pattern edge mount, with inner pounced and burnished surface. Each rear corner with a confronted C-scroll handle. The base with five (one at the rear centre) reeded, elongated feet emerging from foliage. An oval wood base covered in faded golden velvet set on a reeded gilt-bronze base with four low feet, and the whole covered by an oval glass dome (of which only one survives).

Text adapted from Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen: Volume III.