Vierzijdige Square Lacquered Wooden Incense Burner uit de late Qing-dynastie, hout met zwarte lak en vergulde versieringen.



Square Lacquered Wooden Incense Burner
Southern China, Late Qing Dynasty (19th century)
Wood, black lacquer with gilt decoration

A finely crafted square incense burner, set on a low foot and richly decorated in black lacquer and gold. Each of the four sides is adorned with a distinct gilt design, combining poetic inscription and elegant pictorial scenes.

Two panels depict pairs of birds amidst blossoming prunus branches, symbols of harmony and renewal, rendered with graceful linework and subtle shading. A third side shows a scholar within a riverside landscape, standing before a pavilion with distant pagoda, evoking the cultivated ideals of leisure and contemplation. The remaining two panels bear gilt inscriptions of classical Chinese poems, composed in refined calligraphy.

One inscription records a verse by Wang Wenbai (), written upon ascending the Mist and Rain Pavilion ():

“Clouds and wild geese soar across the sky,
Beyond the eaves, one only hears the pecking in the trees.
Truly a fine verse, a trace of soaring grace.
Indeed, the elder’s poem is once again exquisite.”
— Inscribed by Mr. Yingyang ()

The second inscription offers a lyrical meditation on music and emotion, referencing the pipa and classical tones of gong and shang:

“Ziyue’s artful hand brings harmony to the tones of gong and shang,
Urgent yet ordered, the silken strings rise in measured grace like Master Yang.
How beautiful — a pipa tune played upon the river,
Where even in joy, tears fall, for deep feeling stirs within.
Humbly inscribed by the host.”

Together, these poetic and pictorial elements reflect the literati aesthetic of the late Qing period, uniting painting, poetry, and craftsmanship in a single refined object.

Stamped with a yellow export seal on the top.

Dimensions: H23,5 x W 21 cm

Condition: Wear to gilt and lacquer consistent with age; pieces of the carved decoration missing; insect damage on feet and nails used to solidify the integrity.

Please check the images carefully. Small imperfections and defects are not always described in detail. The written condition report is indicative only; the photographs provide the definitive and binding description of the item's condition. The lot is sold 'as is'.

Shipping method: The item is securely packed and shipped with insurance without stand or miniature vase.



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