A RARE AND FINELY CARVED BAMBOO 'DRAGON AND LINGZHI' INCENSE HOLDER MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

of slender cylindrical form, intricately carved and pierced with a continuous scene depicting three stylised archaistic dragons writhing sinuously amidst meandering stems bearing lingzhi blooms, all between two bands enclosing floral scrolls, the patina of a warm honey-brown colour, the top and bottom fitted with fluted buffalo ends

Gerard Hawthorn Ltd., London.

Oriental Works of Art, Gerard Hawthorn Ltd., London, June 2002, cat. no. 82.

There is a 0.2cm chip to one of the stems (visible in the photo on the left, in the middle of the dragon's gaping jaw). Other insignificant chips and age cracks. The buffalo horn tip at the top of the incense holder is bruised and slightly warped, but it can still stand stable if placed this side up.
"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."

Deftly carved with a complex web of interlocking sinuous dragons grasping sprigs of lingzhi, this incense holder is a fine example of the bold creativity attained by bamboo carvers of the 17th century. Although the dragons seen on this piece are well-known from jade carving and have been inspired by archaism, it is unusual to find them in such a dynamic design. The composition of this incense holder would have had to have been conceived in its entirety to ensure the space was harmoniously filled.

A bamboo incense holder carved with similar dragons is illustrated in Wang Shixiang, Zhuke Jianshang, Taipei, 1997, pp. 50-51, pl. 7; two, in the Simon Kwan collection, were included in the exhibition Ming and Qing Bamboo, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2000, cat. nos. 13 and 14; and a fourth example, from the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, was included in the Museum’s exhibition, Chinese Bamboo Carving, Part II, Hong Kong, 1982, cat. no. 82. Compare also a white jade incense holder, similarly carved with three dragons, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum’s A Special Exhibition of Incense Burners and Perfumers Throughout the Dynasties, Taipei, 1994, cat. no. 107.