RARE AND LARGE LENTICULAR BOX COVERED IN CLOISONNÉ ENAMELSChina, Qing Dynasty, 19th centuryThe lid decorated with a large medallion sheltering a couple of deer and two cranes in a landscape planted with a tree loaded with peaches, poly-lobed cartouches sheltering magnolias, gourds, vine shoots and other flowers and fruits in reserve on a geometric background all around, the inside of the box and the lid decorated with a central rosette on a turquoise background (some jumps and misses, restoration at the foot).H: 17 cm - D: 38 cmApproximate weight: 8633 gramsComparison: For a box very similar in diameter, decoration and quality and presented as being from the Qianlong period, see Sotheby's Paris, 12/06/2013, lot 42.Notes :1. This box marks first of all by its proportions (38 cm in diameter) and, more particularly, by its large volume (lenticular shape).2. It is then marked by the richness of its palette of polychrome enamels including turquoise, violet, cyan, white, black and pink, among others.3. Finally, it marks by the richness of its highly auspicious iconography centred on two themes dear to the Taoists which are a) "Longevity" and b) "Accession to a very high position in the Administration".- a) Longevity - The deer (鹿 / lu) is the vehicle of the God Shoulao (Shouxing). He is also the only one who can find the mushrooms of immortality (lingzhi / tinderboxes). He is reputed to live a long time. The same is true of the crane (he / 鹤) which is supposed to have a very long existence and is often depicted in full flight topped by a Taoist immortal.- b) Success - The deer makes a wish for a very high salary and a very high position in the government administration by homonymy with the ideogram 禄. When depicted alone, the crane can embody success in the imperial examinations and the assumption of high responsibilities.A RARE AND LARGE 'LONGEVITY SYMBOLS' CLOISONNE ENAMEL BOX China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century