This HEAVY Chinese pierced porcelain basket for fruit or chestnuts has numerous crudely executed cut out holes for ventilation. It dates from the Qianlong period (1736-95) and is boldly decorated in a cobalt blue underglaze decoration of flowers and medallions
Basket measures 12″ long, 9″ deep, 3″ high
The central floral motif is beautifully rendered but the border design is painted in a more rustic style and was perhaps done by another artist
Due to the extreme weight of this piece, it took a restorer 29 metal staples to repair the bottom alone…
17 staple repairs and 5 metal clips (some with blue and white paint to help mask the metal intrusions) to repair the sides…
and a single metal bolt to hold together one of the handles, for a surprising total of 52 separate repairs. So far, this basket holds the record for the highest number of staple repairs on a single piece!
Tags: blue & white, Chinese, Qianlong, staples/rivets