A PAIR OF CLOISONNE ON COPPER ‘QUAIL’ BOXES AND LIDS China, Late Qing Dynasty to Republic / Minguo period With aubergine, blue, red, yellow and white enamels. The birds naturalistically depicted crouching. L (each): 19,3 cm Weight (each approximately): 576 grams Note: The quail (anchun 鹌鹑) signifies courage because of its fighting spirit. It is often used as a visual pun (rebus) because it is pronounced the same as the word for peace (an 安).