Watch List notes:

China: Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 CE), silver cloisonné enamelled plaque-shaped charm with a hanging loop on top, obverse inscribed 'Tian' in clerical script in red on white in the middle surrounded by five dragons in yellow set against lazurite blue, reverse inscribed 'En' in clerical script in black on white surrounded by foliage also set against lazurite blue, both front and back supported by lotus flower in ruby red, turquoise green as well as lazurite blue and canopied by lotus leaf in turquoise green and yellow, 60.9*2.0mm, 27.5g. Extremely fine, extremely rare, most probably important. Note: This is a beautiful specimen of cloisonné enamelled plaque charm in exceptionally nice condition. The inscriptions on front and back combine into 'Tian en', meaning 'heavenly favour', an expression that was used during the Qing dynasty in reference to 'imperial favour'. In the 56th Year of Kangxi (1662 CE), the governor of Hebei Zhao Hongxie, when awarded by Emperor Kangxi, submitted a memorial to the throne, "Who am I that can receive so much favour, much more than I have received from heaven and earth, father and mother. I am deeply grateful but do not know how to pay back. All I can promise is to be doubly modest, vigilant, prudent, devoted and loyal for the rest of my whole life to honourably pay back perhaps only one ten thousandth of your heavenly favour." In the 2nd Year of Yongzheng (1722 CE), the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi Nian Gengyao crushed a revolt in Qinghai and was awarded by Emperor Yongzheng. He submitted a memorial to the throne and requested more rewards, "I humbly see that the enamel quill tube is exquisitely made with beautiful tender colours. I am submitting this memorial to respectfully thank you for your heavenly favour. I would furthermore beg for your Majesty's pity to award me with one or two newly made enamel objects to quench my covetous thoughts..." It is interesting to note that "heavenly favour" was used in both instances when addressing the emperor in relation to enamel objects, suggesting the probable importance of the present plaque..

Estimate: 7000 - 9000