A Chinese cloisonne censer

Qianlong period

With a five-character inscription on the underside.

H: 2 3/4, Dia: 4 1/8 in. (H: 6.99, Dia: 10.48 cm.)

Weight: 261.5 g.

Provenance: Private collection, Georgia.

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This cloisonne censer has a robust shape with two upright handles and tripod legs. It's decorated in an exquisite cloisonné fashion; colorful and luxurious. The body is covered in azure glaze and adorned with tangles of cloisonné flora patterns. Below the mouth rim is a belt of repetitive hui patterns. The three legs are ornamented with red petal patterns - a unique decoration. The censor has a pure and vibrant glazing and covered in firing holes; qualities unique to cloisonné wares produced during late Ming Dynasty. A gilt copper plate is embedded in the central region of the underside, stamped with a 'Made in Qianlong Period' six-character mark. These markings were added later during the Qianlong period. The Palace Museum has a similar Ming Dynasty cloisonné censer that can be used as reference.

The Palace Museum, No. 00116145, figure 1;

Christie's, Hong Kong, November 2017, Lot 3036; Christie's, Paris, June 2015, Lot 54.

此爐脣口、雙衝耳，鼓腹三乳足。整器紋飾均以精美的掐絲琺琅工藝製成，色彩繽紛絢麗，裝飾富麗華貴。 爐通體施天藍色琺琅釉爲地，爐身滿飾掐絲琺琅纏枝花卉紋圖案，口沿下部飾紅色回紋。三乳足周圍以紅色花瓣紋圍繞，尤爲特殊。爐身琺琅顏色單一純正，表面砂眼略多，應爲明代中後期產物。故宮博物院有件館藏明代掐絲琺琅香爐花紋與其幾乎一樣。爐底正中嵌一鎏金銅片，上陰刻“乾隆年制 則”字款，應爲乾隆時期後鑲。

故宮博物院館藏，編號故00116145　見圖１；佳士得拍賣2017年11月香港拍賣，編號3036；2015年06月巴黎拍賣，編號54。

One large area of loss and scattered smaller areas of loss throughout. Small dents to body. Wear to handles.