Bowls of this type are known as 'marriage' bowls, and with their carefully chosen auspicious decoration, were popular in Qing dynasty China, especially under the reign of the Qianlong emperor. The winged- dragon depicted on the present lot is representative of Imperial power.

The unusual handles of this censer depict winged-dragons. The winged- dragon as a decorative motif is first emerged on blue and white ceramics of the Ming dynasty Xuande period, and made a brief re-emergence in the Yongzheng period. It is possible that the present dragon motif was influenced by those painted on ceramics; compare with a Yongzheng-marked dragon dish, sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 2007, lot 336.