The Expert Conclusion

Incense burner (“per fumum”) on a support, green nephrite, tree, carving, polishing, China, the middle of 20 centuries: height-180 mm, width – 200 mm.

Incense burners in China – one of the most widespread subjects of home usage. Also Incense burners were produced from different materials - from bronze, a plique-a-jour, a carved stone etc. Served for smoking aromas, smoking sticks and were established in temples, on altars in temples or on small house altar tables, could serve also as an interior ornament when the material was beautiful and expensive.
Incense burners were part altar sets from three or five subjects then Incense burners were put in the center, or could be separate subjects.
Given Incense burner has the archaic form in the form of the Chinese ancient bronze vessel of dynes – with round body, the narrowed throat, with a cover, costs on three legs in the form of the paws leaving a mouth of an animal mask, has two horizontal handles with a round loop below, handles leave a mouth of a dragon, on handles mobile rings are cut out. On the cover three handles are cut out, top-up is executed in the form of the curtailed pro-carved dragon.
Incense burner it is cut out from an integral piece of a nephrite of green color with white streaks, it is established on a wooden figured carved support with a through pattern, with deepenings under legs, the support is made especially for Incense burner for its stability and exhibiting.
Surface of Incense burner , handles, a cover, legs are decorated is masterful the executed relief through carving, with the image of masks, dragons, the archaic patterns, all details and surfaces carefully polished to «damp shine», thanking that is revealed color and half-transparency of a stone. Especially it is necessary to note a carving of handles and mobile rings which are freely hanging on handles which are executed from the same piece of the stone piece as a whole product.
Incense burner has the traditional form, it is cut out in traditional style and the technician of a carving on a solid nephrite (on Mohs Hardness Scale– nearby 6-6,5).
The nephrite of different shades was especially highly appreciated and till now is appreciated in China.
This stone was used from an extreme antiquity, it is considered most expensive of stones, to it various sacred and magic properties are attributed, it is considered that the stone grants immortality. It speaks properties of a stone, its viscosity, hardness, semi-transparency beautiful color.
Incense burner is a carved product of high execution and carving level, it is executed by masters-carvers of Beijing of 1950-1960, its interior ornament can be as a part of an expensive decorative interiors.

Expert of Russian Ministry of Culture,
Marya L.Menshikova
he Certificate ? 0174

Item is in good condition