A RARE WHITE JADE INCENSE GARNITURE SET

QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

Details

A RARE WHITE JADE INCENSE GARNITURE SET
QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY
Comprising three vessels: a censer, tool vase and incense powder-box; the censer carved in shallow relief with a band of archaistic stylised dragons on a leiwen ground, flanked on either side of the vessel by an elaborate pair of lion-mask loose ring handles, the domed cover similarly decorated with archaistic bands below the eight trigrams and a chilong finial carved in openwork, all supported on three lion-head feet; the matching tool vase of flattened baluster shape with lingzhi handles on each side of the tapered neck; and the circular box and cover carved with a coiled chilong to the cover, the rims encircled by keyfret, the stone of an exceptionally even white tone
The censer, 5½ in. (14 cm.) across handles, wood stands, fitted wood boxes

Provenance

A Japanese private collection, Ashiya

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Lot Essay

The practice of incense burning has prevailed throughout Chinese history. By the Qing dynasty, vessels for this particular purpose were often found in formulaic groups of three: a circular box for the storage of incense either in strip, coil or pellet form; a tool vase which accommodated implements such as chopsticks and spatula for raking over ashes; and a censer. Compare a white jade set in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Zhongguo Yuqi Quanji, Qing Dynasty, vol. 6, Beijing, 1991, p. 60, no. 92.Compare also with other jade incense garnitures in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in the Special Exhibition of Incense Burners and Perfumers Throughout the Dynasties, Taipei, 1994, nos. 84 and 85. Two other jade sets were sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 300 Years of Jade, 30 October 2000, lots 657 and 658. Garnitures were also produced using other materials such as champleve enamel, Canton enamel and ceramic in imitation of bronze, see op. cit., nos. 86, 88 and 89 respectively. A set in gilt-lacquer is in the Beijing Palace Museum, illustrated in Zhongguo Qiqi Quanji, Qing dynasty, vol. 6, no. 9.

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