A rare cloisonné enamel censer and cover, 16th / 17th century | 十六 / 十七世紀 銅胎掐絲琺瑯雙龍捧壽紋方鼎式熏爐

This censer is impressive for its large and imposing form, which reflects the high level of technical skill exercised by craftsmen active during the late Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Vessels of this large size posed the challenge of firing the enamel evenly over a broad surface area, which has been successfully achieved on the present censer. The shape originates from the ritual bronze fangding of the Shang (16th century-c.1050 BC) and Zhou (c.1050-221 BC) dynasties. By fusing an archaic form with a contemporary design of confronting chilong and a central shou character, all surrounded by scrolling clouds, the craftsmen have achieved a modern aesthetic.  

No other censer of this size appears to be published, although a smaller one of similar shape, but decorated with a taotie design and surmounted with a simpler reticulated cover, which forms part of an altar set in the Pierre Uldry Collection, is illustrated in Helmut Brinker and Albert Lutz, Chinesisches Cloisonne. Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Zurich, 1985, pl. 267; a further example was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 29th November 1978, lot 442.  Another covered censer of similar shape, but decorated with lotus scrolls, was sold twice in our London rooms, 8th June 1993, lot 145, and again, 12th July 2006, lot 99. See also a smaller Wanli mark and period fangding, similarly decorated with two confronting red dragons and a shou character, but with mask-head legs and lacking the flanges, with a related later cover, was sold in our London rooms, 24th February 1970, lot 26.