Vaas - Brons - China - Ming Dynastie (1368-1644) - Incense-stick holder

A rare reticulated bronze incense-stick holder, ‘xiangtong’ (literally, ‘incense cylinder’).
Yuan / early Ming dynasty, 14th century.

This scholar's object would have been used with a censer, to hold a supply of incense sticks. The Chinese literati would have had these parfumiers for daily use in scenting the home or in offering to household deities.

The container has four Daoist figures emerging from the faceted, openwork body. The hexagonal parfumier is resting on three cabriole legs and is adorned with two chilong handles on either side of the mouth rim.

This incense holder was probably one of a pair. The combination making for a completion of the eight figures known as ‘Eight Daoist Immortals Crossing the Sea’ (Baxian guihai).

Condition:
Originally the reservoir would have been resting on a table-like stand, which is missing. Furthermore one of the figures with an arm missing and the rim somewhat bent at one side.

Dimensions:
Height 18 cm, width with handles 13.5 cm, depth 8 cm.

Ref:
-Compare with a Fahua ceramic incense-stick holder of the same shape dated to the Ming dynasty and compare with a bronze incense-stick holder similar to our listing depicted on the same page in ’Ming Ceramics in the British Museum’ (Jessica Harrison-Hall) p. 417/418 item 13:19

-A similar piece can be found in the collection of the Godwin-Ternbach Museum New York, id no. 88.1.21

-Compare with an incense-stick holder with the Daoist figures but of cylindrical shape, illustrated in ‘The Art of Scent’ (Littleton & Hennessy catalogue) cat. no. 10

-Compare with an incense-stick holder of the same shape but without the Daoist figures: ‘China’s Renaissance in Bronze The Robert H. Clague Collection of Later Chinese Bronzes 1100-1900’ (Robert D. Mowry) p. 40

-A similar piece auctioned at Bonhams Asian Art Sale 8 May 2017, lot 576

-A similar piece auctioned at Freeman’s 16th mar 2018 Asian Arts sale lot 223 estimated at $1600 - $2000

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