Ch'Ien

These vases of the Ch'ien Lung period were embellished in Paris with scrolled and foliated mounts that were used as bases, handles, and rims, thus adapting the vases to the European Rococo aesthetic. Mounting Asian and European porcelain became a standard and lucrative practice for the Parisian marchands merciers. In this manner, they could enhance a mediocre piece of porcelain or preserve a precious but damaged object. These "makers of nothing and sellers of everything" also invented new models for porcelain by giving some vessels pierced mounts and turning them into potpourri holders.