Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen
This publication highlights some of the most important examples of eastern arts now in the western world
Incense burner and cover
second half of eighteenth centuryCloisonné enamel on copper | 47.5 x 40.0 x 23.5 cm (whole object) | RCIN 26809
Tripod incense burner with globular body raised on three curving feet emanating from the heads of mythical beasts in gilt bronze, the neck constricted below a projecting rim with flat, channelled top, with a pair of flaring hollow, rectangular handles attached to the shoulder and separated from the rim by cylindrical stoppers. The cover a low dome, with spreading rim topped by a large, openwork, gilt-bronze knob in the form of a five-clawed dragon, its head forming the knop, set on a ring of lotus petals. The body of the vessel, handles and rim decorated with lotus scroll designs on a turquoise ground, with borders of petal panels on the shoulder and lotus scroll on the neck. The cover with blooms and scrollwork in pointed lappets dropping down over a ground of gilt-bronze cloud scrolls in openwork, with ruyi-head border above. The surface of the vessel severely abraded in parts.
Text adapted from Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen: Volume III.
Creator(s)
China [Asia] (place of production)
Chinese (nationality)
47.5 x 40.0 x 23.5 cm (whole object)