This hand warmer of quadrilobed oval form has a copper body; it is decorated with couple of deers and Mandarin ducks, surrounded by a light blue painted enamel ground, ornated with flowers scrolls;. the cover is made of gilt bronze openwork Wan motif ; Gilt bronze handle; inside, a metal bowl of burning charcoal;
These precious works of art were used in The Forbidden City during the winter and can be seen till now on beds or Kang tables; they were part of the list of the Guangdong Qing Court Tributes: “tribute file book 166”the 3rd day of the 12th month of the 14th year of Jiaqing Emperor, Bai Ling, Viceroy of Guangdong, presented 10 enamelled hand warmers to the Beijing Qing Court.

References:

– A Simlilar Hand Warmer in The Palace Museum Beijing « in situ » in « Life in the forbidden city » and another one “au Musée Chinois de L’Impératrice Eugénie de Fontainebleau”.

– Also: Palace Museum Beïjing : « Compendium, enamels Volume 5 » N°243, N°244,N°245, N°246.

– YANG Boda, « Imperial Tributes from Guandong to the Qing court », Beijing, n°47.