A rare cloisonné enamel 'grapes' tripod censer and cover, Late Ming dynasty | 明末 掐絲琺瑯葡萄紋活環耳三足熏爐

The brilliantly enamelled design on the current incense burner and cover is extremely rare. The only other recorded example at auction is an identical one sold in these rooms, 16th November 1971, lot 50.  For another incense burner and cover in the Pierre Uldry collection, dating to the first half of the 17th century, with a similar design of grapes, see Helmut Brinker and Albert Lutz, Chinese Cloisonné: The Pierre Uldry Collection, London, 1989, pl. 144. See also 16th century pieces of this pattern illustrated by Sir Harry Garner, Chinese and Japanese Cloisonne Enamels, London, 1962, pls 40a and c.