QIANLONG SIX-CHARACTER SEAL MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE RECTANGLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1821-1850)

The large globular body is supported on three cabriole feet, is applied with two curved s-shaped handles and is decorated with The Eight Buddhist Emblems, Bajixiang, amongst lotus flowers on leafy scrolls. The neck and feet are similarly decorated with lotus scrolls and each handle is decorated with two confronting bats enclosing further floral scrolls. There is a later carved wood cover and stand.

A related Qianlong mark and period white-ground censer is included in National Palace Museum, Taipei, Special Exhibition of Incense Burners and Perfumes throughout the Dynasties, Taipei, 1994, p. 266, no. 120. Another example included in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 4, London, 1994-2010, no. 1752. Compare to a similar doucai ‘bajixiang’ tripod censer of the same date sold at Sotheby’s London, 11 May 2011, lot 230 (part); and another censer of the same form and decoration, but filled with different enamel colours in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Gu Taoci Ziliao Xuazncui, juan 2, Beijing, 2005, pp. 242-243, no. 214.