SOUTHERN SONG-YUAN DYNASTY (1127-1368)

The form of the current censer is closely modelled after archaic bronze li of the Shang and Zhou periods. This transfer of form between mediums reflected a trend of antiquarianism popular during the Southern Song dynasty. The present censer, however, has additional moulded taotie masks on the feet, which is rarely found on Longquan wares of this period, but more commonly seen during the Ming dynasty, as exemplified by two Longquan basins illustrated in Longquan Ware: Chinese Celadon Beloved of the Japanese, 2012, p. 93, nos. 108 & 109. For a Southern Song Longquan tripod censer of very similar form and proportion but of larger size (20 cm. diam.), see an example in the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, illustrated in ibid., p. 47, no. 38. Compare also a similar Longquan tripod censer sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 4 October 2016, lot 119.