AN EXTREMELY RARE IMPERIAL PARCEL-GILT RECTANGULAR CENSER INCISED MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

of square section shaped like a stylised pagoda, the main columnar shaft hollow and reticulated, each side parcel-gilt and incised with archaistic fret-work and ruyi clouds, one side incised at the top with a six-character reign mark, the interior set with a hook hanging down from the top possibly used for suspending incense, below a gilt-bronze architectural roof, each rounded side chased with three lotus blooms borne on interlocking scrolls on a stippled ground, above a band of key-fret openings and  fixed pendant tassles, set on the corners with overhanging kui dragons, covered by a waisted plinth with further chased lotus and fret decoration, supporting a smaller similarly decorated tectal section, all surmounted by a stepped pyramidal cover with a cube-shaped knop incised with lotus blooms, all fitted to a gilt-bronze balustraded base with hooks extending from the base locking the censer in place, above a solid square stepped base finely cast in low relief with bands of lotus scrolls, foliate scrolls, kui dragons and fret motifs

The overall condition is very good with only 2 of the flanges on the cover replaced. The rest of the censer appears to be completely intact. The gilding is in very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Incense burners of this rectangular section and parcel-gilt are extremely rare. More often these censers are found in cylindrical form and in other materials. See a pair with columnar towers of circular section pictured in situ in the Yangxin dian (Hall of Mental Cultivation), illustrated in Qingdai gongting shenghuo, Hong Kong, 1985, pl. 72. A pair of spinach jade and gilt-bronze pagoda-shaped censers in the Palace Museum collection is illustrated in China: The Three Emperors, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2005, cat. no. 22.   For cloisonné enamel incense burners with a dragon climbing around a cylindrical tower, see a pair pictured in situ in the throne room in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, published in Wan-go Weng and Yang Boda, The Palace Museum: Peking. Treasures of the Forbidden City, London, 1982, p. 51; and a pair, with Qianlong reign marks and of the period, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27^th April 1997, lot 89. Compare also a pair of turquoise inlaid gilt bronze incense burners of cylindrical form included in the exhibition Son of Heaven. Imperial Arts of China, Seattle, 1988, cat. nos 37 and 38; and a pair made from gilt bronze, but the tower of hexagonal-section and mounted with reticulated white jade panels, sold in our New York rooms, 28-29^th September 1989, lot 257A.

Grand incense burners such as the present example were produced to furnish throne rooms. A throne ensemble demanded a repertoire of accessories, some of which were practical and others symbolic of the roles and virtues of the ruler. The highly perfumed atmosphere of the court augmented the presence of the emperor, and incense burners were fairly consistent in size, design and craftsmanship from one throne room to another.