21.5 cm (height) × 16.9 cm (mouth diameter)
Cloisonné enamelware featuring animal motifs is rare among surviving artifacts, making this Cloisonné Animal-pattern Dou Vessel a particularly exceptional piece. The vessel takes inspiration from the traditional “dou” food container and features a gilded copper body. Both the lid and the body are adorned with a single string pattern, dividing the surface into four decorative bands. The background is covered in turquoise enamel, overlaid with delicately arranged gilded cloisonné scroll patterns and vibrant animal motifs, including birds, dogs, sheep, and cattle. The handle of the lid is decorated with a double-layered dragon design, with a simplified coiled dragon motif at the center. The base of the vessel bears a raised inscription in regular script: “Made during the Qianlong reign of the Great Qing dynasty.”
The depiction of animals on this vessel, both in form and posture, closely resembles the “Zhou Hundred Beast Dou” recorded in Xiqing Gujian, suggesting that the vessel was modeled after this illustrated reference. However, rather than directly copying the “Zhou Hundred Beast Dou,” the design was refined—the originally scattered animal motifs were reorganized into evenly distributed decorative bands, creating a structured and harmonious effect. Additionally, corresponding sides of the vessel feature similar animal motifs, possibly due to the constraints of adapting a two-dimensional illustration into a three-dimensional object. During the Qianlong period, the Imperial Workshops required that paper design drafts be submitted for imperial approval before production. Thus, the decorative patterns of this artifact were likely inspired by ancient bronze illustrations, approved by the emperor, and then crafted into a unique work of art.