AN EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE AND RARE WHITE JADE TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER AND COVERQING DYNASTY

the deep rounded body raised on short waisted legs issuing from leonine animal masks, flanked by a pair of dragon head handles pierced and undercut with extensive horns and suspending loose rings, the fitted domed cover surmounted with a knop in openwork of two lions, the larger meticulously picked out in a dynamic stance with serrated spine and flaring tail standing over its counterpart depicted reclining on its back and playing with ribbon, the stone of an even white tone with subtle milky inclusions, wood stand

Yamanaka & Co.

The incense burner and cover are in good condition with just insignificant surface wear and minute nicks to the flanges and other fragile extremities as can be expected.
"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."

White jade boulders skifully worked into incense burners of this exceptional size and even luminous tone are extremely rare. The quality of the stone has been accentuated through the exquisite carving and lustrous finish of the surface. By restricting the intricate carving to the handles and finial, which have been skilfully modelled in the round, the carver draws attention to the quality of the stone. Jade boulders of this large size originated in the jade-rich territories of Khotan and Yarkand, areas opened only after the Qing army’s conquest of the north-western territories in the 18th century. The Qianlong Emperor himself frequently praised the qualities of the jades from Khotan in poems incised on specific jade vessels. 

Continuing in the Song dynasty tradition of carving jade vessels in the form of archaic bronzes, the craftsmen of the Qing adapted classical forms and combined them with their own innovative decorative elements. The present piece is based on an archaic bronze vessel known as ding. Smaller incense burners of related form, but carved with two lions on the cover, include two sold in our New York rooms, 18th March 2008, lot 32, and the other, 27th/28th April 1967, lot 297; one sold in our London rooms, 18th November 1998, lot 926; and another, but with one Buddhist lion over the cover and two extra ringed lion mask handles, from the Su Lin An collection sold in these rooms, 31st October 1995, lot 331. Compare also a jadeite incense burner of this type from the Jingguantang collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3rd November 1996, lot 610.