AN UNUSUAL HEXAGONAL CLOISONNE ENAMEL AND GILT-BRONZE TRIPOD CENSER AND COVER
AN UNUSUAL HEXAGONAL CLOISONNE ENAMEL AND GILT-BRONZE TRIPOD CENSER AND COVER

Details
AN UNUSUAL HEXAGONAL CLOISONNE ENAMEL AND GILT-BRONZE TRIPOD CENSER AND COVER
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

The compressed globular body divided into six lobes, each enamelled in bright tones with a central exotic bloom amidst smaller flowers and leafy vines continuing onto the base, below a bi-disc suspended from blue archaistic scrollwork framing the lobed segment, flanked by a pair of prominent gilt-bronze chilong handles, all raised on three gilt-bronze cabriole legs emerging from animal masks and enamelled on the sides with floral scrolls, the hexagonal cover with lotus sprays and surmounted by an openwork finial cast with peony scrolls
19 1/2 in. (49.5 cm.) overall height

Lot Essay

The unusual decoration on the censer was inspired by archaic jades, rather than bronzes, as is usually the case. Another large hexagonal vase from the Yuanmingyuan with similar suspended bi-discs, latterly from the Kitson Collection, was sold at Sotheby's London, 30 May 1961, lot 401. Other similar cloisonné enamel tripod censers include one illustrated by W. Watson, Style in the Arts of China, London, 1974, no. 136; and another sold in our London Rooms, 6 December 1993, lot 171.

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