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32. RARE IMPERIAL LAPIS LAZULI INCENSE SET
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The censer is shaped like an archaistic bronze gui of the Western Zhou Dynasty (ca. 1100- 771 BC), carved on each side with elongated taotie masks and abstract border of birds around the neck. The handles are carved with loose rings and high-relief stylised dragon heads. The vase is carved with a matching band of taotie around the body, below a band of ruyi-heads and another band of masks and plantain leaves below the rim with two animal heads with rings between their jaws. The cover of the box is decorated with four pairs of interlinked c-scrolls forming a quatrefoil, the sides of the box and cover with archaistic abstract geometric motifs. The material is lightly streaked with white striations and dense gold speckles. The elaborate tripartite stands are typical of the design scheme for displaying objects particularly esteemed by the Imperial family. Lapis lazuli is recorded as part of the trade in exotic goods to China of the later Han period. In addition, the Han shu as well as the Sanguo zhi also mention pearls, tortoise-shell, incense, kingfisher feathers and rhinoceros horn as highly prized commodities of this time. Even in the much later Ming and Qing periods, coral, turquoise and lapis lazuli were rare and considered more precious than jade. No other incense set made of lapis lazuli appears to have been published. Matching sets of incense burners, tool vases and incense boxes came into vogue in the 18th century. These were made not just as objects of utility but challenged craftsmen frequently to introduce elements of novelty and style in their creation. In particular, sets made of porcelain imitating bronzes were considered especially stylish. A highly elaborate Qianlong-marked teadust-glazed ensemble moulded and painted with gold was included in a Special Exhibition of Incenser Burners and Perfumers Throughout the Dynasties, National Palace Museum, Taipai, catalogue no. 82. See also ibid., no. 89, where the similarly-marked porcelain is covered with a glaze simulating archaic bronze. The censer and vase of this set have curiously flattened backs as does the elaborately carved wood stand, suggesting that they were used as wall ornaments in addition to their normal function. |
