A Complete One Hundred and Twenty Piece Set of Canton Enamel Dinner Wares for Twelve, Late Qing Dynasty, Daoguang-Guangxu Period (1821-1908)清 道光/光绪 广东铜胎画珐琅餐具一套(十二人用)共一百二十件 The set brightly enameled with motifs of butterflies, 'shou' (longevity) character roundels, peonies, plum blossoms, and various other flowers; consisting of twelve five-piece butterfly-form dishes (butterfly body 5.5 in — 14 cm), twelve long handled spoons (length 8.7 in — 22 cm), twelve pairs of chopsticks (length 9.3 in — 23.7 cm), twelve seafood forks (length 8.7 in — 22.2 cm), and twelve wine cups (height 1.5 in — 3.7 cm); together with a hardwood storage case with six silk-lined drawers, box 12.4 x 21.1 x 15 in — 31.5 x 53.5 x 38 cmProvenance:Imported by 'The Great Wall Trading Co.', No. 8-10 Hankow Road, Kwoloon, from Hong Kong to Jamaica in 1967.Private Estate Collection, Montreal.1967年由'长城贸易有限公司'从香港九龙汉口路出口至牙买加，后由蒙特利尔藏家珍藏至今Note:This single "place-setting" of enameled ceremonial wares, supposedly one of twelve such groups, consists of chopsticks, a skewer, a ladle-like spoon, a handleless cup, and five separate dishes which sit together to form a butterfly-like arrangement. The metal used is a silver alloy of slightly better than sterling quality.The liberal use of "imperial" yellow enamels, along with blues, reds, mauves and greens, suggests that these pieces were originally made for or owned by the Empress Dowager or other high-ranking royal ladies.Estimate: $4,000—6,000