A pair of cloisonne vases with lotus flowers modeled after ancient Chinese bronzes Photo: Courtesy of Sino-foreign Enamel Gallery

Cloisonné, one of China's intangible cultural heritages, originated from Europe and introduced to China through the legendary Silk Road. For hundreds of years, cloisonné was an expensive form of art that could only be afforded by the royal family or high officials of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, but slowly the art form expanded into the rest of society. 

In recent years, cloisonné artworks have been sent to foreign friends as national gifts. A pair of cloisonne vases with lotus flowers modeled after ancient Chinese bronzes were sent to Nigerian Ambassador to China Baba Ahmad Jidda as birthday gifts from the Sino-foreign Enamel Gallery in Beijing. 

The two vases, based on relics dating back to the Ming Dynasty, were designed by Palace Museum expert Yuan Hongqi and made by national fine arts craftman Liu Yongsen.