Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1600-1644
Materials:ceramic
Technique:glazed
Subjects:lotus dragon
Dimensions:Diameter: 28 centimetres (max) Height: 28 centimetres
Description:
This large incense burner is modelled with three thick spreading legs, topped with the heads of mythical lion-like creatures moulded in high relief. Also in high relief around the belly are two confronting dragons with horns, open jaws and scaly bodies, both gripping pearls in each of their chicken-like clawed paws. Between these dragons is a raised rectangular plaque, which has been damaged, with a strange reptilian beast above. This plaque is incised but the first two characters are missing and chipped. It reads: ‘□ □ shan si gui □ □’. The meaning is unclear because of the absent characters at the beginning of the inscription. On the other side is a flowering lotus in high relief with an inscription incised around the belly. Above and below are bands of horizontal bosses and around the neck and belly sharp triangular petals in high relief. The handles have been broken off and the censer is drilled with four holes on either side for the attachment of replacement handles, now missing. Outside the censer is entirely covered with an uneven treacle-coloured iron glaze and inside it is unglazed. There is a large X-shaped firing crack in the base.
IMG
![图片[1]-censer BM-OA+.15727-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/43/mid_00254372_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:There are two Lu Rivers using this character in China. One runs through Shanxi and the other through Yunnan. It is likely that this votive censer was made in Shanxi province and dedicated by the named group of monks for a hall devoted to the worship of the popular Buddhist deity, the Bodhisattva Guanyin.The style of the dragons suggests a date in the late Ming period, as do the monsters at the head of the legs, which are more comical than frightening.
Materials:ceramic
Technique:glazed
Subjects:lotus dragon
Dimensions:Diameter: 28 centimetres (max) Height: 28 centimetres
Description:
This large incense burner is modelled with three thick spreading legs, topped with the heads of mythical lion-like creatures moulded in high relief. Also in high relief around the belly are two confronting dragons with horns, open jaws and scaly bodies, both gripping pearls in each of their chicken-like clawed paws. Between these dragons is a raised rectangular plaque, which has been damaged, with a strange reptilian beast above. This plaque is incised but the first two characters are missing and chipped. It reads: ‘□ □ shan si gui □ □’. The meaning is unclear because of the absent characters at the beginning of the inscription. On the other side is a flowering lotus in high relief with an inscription incised around the belly. Above and below are bands of horizontal bosses and around the neck and belly sharp triangular petals in high relief. The handles have been broken off and the censer is drilled with four holes on either side for the attachment of replacement handles, now missing. Outside the censer is entirely covered with an uneven treacle-coloured iron glaze and inside it is unglazed. There is a large X-shaped firing crack in the base.
IMG
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:There are two Lu Rivers using this character in China. One runs through Shanxi and the other through Yunnan. It is likely that this votive censer was made in Shanxi province and dedicated by the named group of monks for a hall devoted to the worship of the popular Buddhist deity, the Bodhisattva Guanyin.The style of the dragons suggests a date in the late Ming period, as do the monsters at the head of the legs, which are more comical than frightening.
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