Cast in bronze, this elegant armrest in the shape of a hand scroll is decorated with the floral crossing patterns often seen in contemporary textiles or lacquer work.The Kangxi emperor (reign 1662–1722) was interested in scholarship and scholarly objects, and an enamel workshop was begun during his reign. This refined, elegant cloisonné enamel might possibly have been made there. It demonstrates not only the high quality of imperial enamels produced in the 17th and the 18th centuries, but also the interest in scholarly subjects at court during the period.
