Lot 3059
  • 3059

A 'LONGQUAN' CELADON TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER SOUTHERN SONG – YUAN DYNASTY

Estimate
600,000 - 800,000 HKD
bidding is closed

Description

  • ceramics
finely potted with a compressed body rising from three splayed tapering cylindrical legs to a constricted neck and flat everted rim, the body encircled by a thin raised fillet interrupted by three ridges, each extending along the body to the legs, attractively covered overall save for the tips of the legs with a translucent pale sea-green colour thinning to off-white at the raised edges and pooling to a thicker and darker green in areas, wood stand

Provenance

Barton Baker, acquired in Scottsdale, Arizona, 17th July 1977.

Condition

The celadon glaze of superb quality. The incense burner is in excellent condition with the exception of minute glaze flakes and minor firing imperfections, including light glaze crazing around the shoulder, iron spots and minor glaze pulls. The lacquered wood cover and stand with minor flakes/losses.
"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."

Catalogue Note

'Longquan' celadon incense burners of these classic elegant proportions, based on archaic bronze tripods (li), are characteristic of the Southern Song period. Celadon vessels of this form have been treasured and collected in Japan, where several examples are in historic collections. A celadon incense burner preserved in the Engakuji, a temple near Kamakura, Japan, which has been designated an 'Important Cultural Property' is illustrated in Chugoku no toji [Chinese ceramics], vol. 4, Tokyo, 1997, col. pl. 67.

Another similar incense burner, in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum Collection, is published in Longquan Celadon of China, Hangzhou, 1998, pl. 73; and another is included in Celadons from the Longquan Kilns, Taipei, 1998, pl. 120. Compare also a vessel excavated at Lijiashan, Longquan county, published in line drawing in Jan Wirgin, Sung Ceramic Designs, Stockholm, 1970, fig. 30 (17); and a Southern Song shard from an incense burner of this type collected at Longquan in 1960, included in the exhibition Kiln Sites of Ancient China, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1980, cat. no. 97.

A 'Longquan' incense burner of the same size and form, from the Cunliffe Collection, was sold in our London rooms, 29th October 1957, lot 89; another from the Muwen Tang Collection, was also sold in our London rooms, 12th November 2003, lot 90; and a third slightly smaller censer with a later Japanese pierced metal cover by Joueki Nakagawa, was sold in these rooms, 30th March 2006, lot 28.