LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

Details

A RARE BAMBOO BUDDHISTIC LION FORM CENSER
LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY
Finely modelled in the round as a Buddhist lion seated on its haunches, carved with its mouth agape exposing sharp fangs and tongue, the inset eyes bulging under feathered eyebrow, one paw placed to steady a reticulated brocade ball under its breast, the body slightly turned on one side as if taunting its young, clambering playing on the adult's back, the underside belly forming a seal plate, opening to reveal a hollow body for placement of incense, and secured with a pin
5 1/2 in. (14 cm.) wide, box

Provenance

An Asian private collection

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Aster Ng

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Lot Essay

Bamboo lion groups carved in the round are known such as those illustrated by L. Tam (Ed.), Chinese Bamboo Carving, Part I, Hong Kong, 1978, pp. 342-351, nos. 104-108. The present group, however, appears to be unique in its ingenious use of the beast's belly as a receptacle forming the censer, and thereby allowing smoke to emerge through the brocade ball and its agaped mouth.

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