There were other important production centers for enamelware outside the capital, such as in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and Yangzhou, Jiangsu province.

Chang is especially proud of the pair of incense burners with a flower-and-bird design and elephant-headshaped feet, that are among his gifts to the Shanghai Museum.

The two identical objects stand 127 centimeters high, and have a diameter of 91 centimeters.

"These are definitely representative cloisonne artworks and the most treasured objects among our collection. It would be hard to find such a large pair of fine enamel incense burners today, even at the Palace Museum," says Chu.

He adds that Chang's donations have laid a solid foundation for cloisonne research at the museum.

"We hope in the future we can take these objects on international tour, and introduce overseas visitors to the evolution of cloisonne enamel in China, and how it became a traditional handicraft favored by the emperors," Chu says.