Touhu arrow vase in bronze and polychrome cloisonné enamels on a turquoise blue background. The body is entirely decorated with lotus flowers, peonies, lilies, stylized petals, banana leaves, and foliage. The long neck is flanked by two cylindrical handles typical of vases used for the game of touhu, a court entertainment that was very popular during the reigns of Yongle (1403-1424) and Xuande (1426-1435).

Ming dynasty paintings depicting Emperor Xuande’s leisure activities confirm this use, showing touhu vases into which game arrows are thrown. Small cloisonné examples, such as this one, could also be used as decorative objects or containers for incense accessories.
Larger touhu vases, often made of porcelain, were sometimes described in ancient texts as imperial wine vessels, while cloisonné versions were undoubtedly reserved for official ceremonies and entertainment.

References :

Béatrice Quette, Cloisonné, Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, p. 72 and p. 234 no. 20.

Gunhild Gabbert Avitabile, Die Ware aus dem Teufelsland, Chinesische und Japanische Cloisonné- und Champlevé-Arbeiten von 1400 bis 1900, Germany, 1981, p. 44. Similar model in a private collection.

Keverne Fine and Rare Chinese Works of Art and Ceramics Winter Exhibition 4 November 2010 Number 54