QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

The present jade censer has been passed down to the current owner over the course of four generations. The original collector, Dr. So To Meng (1847-1919), was a pioneer in Canton in the 19th century, and worked at both hospitals and medical universities practicing traditional Chinese and western medicine. Dr. So To Meng first visited the United States in 1863, when he arrived in San Francisco and was adopted by missionaries who both cared for him and financed his education, which later included his advanced education at the University of Chicago. He returned to China in the late 19th century, and was the leading anesthesiologist at the time. By 1902 he had achieved the title of Chief Surgeon at Hackett Medical College for Women. His son, Dr. Coxion To (1870-1962), followed in the family tradition and began his medical education at the Hong Kong Medical University in 1892, where he studied and became close colleagues with Dr. Sun Yat Sen. Dr. Coxion To and Dr. Sun Yat Sen both joined Dr. So To Meng and a group of foreign and domestic medical doctors to convince the regional governor of the need for medical hospitals and universities, which were later established due to these efforts. Coxion's son, Dr. Ernest To (1899-1997), was the third to follow in the family tradition, and pursued his education in Radiology at the Hong Kong Medical University well. As per the family tradition, the present censer was a gift to Dr. So To Meng by the Qing Court, circa 1895-1900, and was subsequently passed down through the generations.

The carving of this censer is remarkably ornate, with no area of the stone left uncarved, including small details such as the feet and loose rings. Another striking feature of this censer is the integral bowl within, which is delicately carved to exceptional thinness in the form of multiple rings of small petals, all out of the same stone. The outstanding carving of this piece indicates not only Imperial ownership but also attests to the virtuousity of the skilled craftsmen.