Pair of table lamps; China, c. 1980.

Pair of table lamps; China, c. 1980.
Canton silver and enamel.
Electrified and in working order.
No punches.
Measurements: 30 x 15 x 15 cm.
Weight: 2232 g.
The lamps present a silver structure, worked with polished surfaces and modeled elements of sculptural character, as the zoomorphic legs, which refer to a symbolic imaginary of traditional roots. The central body is covered with enameled panels, decorated with figurative scenes of oriental inspiration, executed with great chromatic richness and technical detail. These compositions, depicting characters in a landscape setting, evoke classical Chinese narrative painting, adapted here to the medium.
Cantonese enamel, originally developed in the Canton region (Guangzhou) from the 18th century onwards, is characterized by its brilliance, intense palette and painstaking pictorial execution. In these lamps, this technique is harmoniously integrated with the silver, creating a visual contrast between the luminosity of the metal and the chromatic depth of the enamels.