China, 15th-16th century. Finely molded, the ovoid body supported on a short base with everted barbed rim, finely carved in openwork with lotus, lingzhi, prunus, and chrysanthemum blossoms flanked borne on scrolling leafy vines, above a hexagonal cell diaper, covered overall in a soft sea-green glaze thinning along the edges and pooling in the recesses, save for the unglazed foot partially burnt to orange in the firing.

Provenance: Swedish trade. Acquired from a deceased estate in the south of Sweden.
Condition: Expected old wear and firing flaws including dark spots, occasional glaze recesses, small firing cracks. Two short hairlines to the lower body, some losses with associated areas of smoothening, minor chips and glaze flaking. Obvious leaning and warping. The base lost. Displaying remarkably well.

Weight: 529.1 g
Dimensions: Height 13.2 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related longquan openwork vessel with similar floral and honeycomb designs, 22.3 cm high, dated to the Ming dynasty, in the British Museum, accession number Franks.1666, illustrated by Jessica-Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, cat. no. 16:34, where the author notes that bronze vessels with similar cut-out decoration were discovered among the cargo of the Sinan shipwreck of 1323 and suggests that as the vessel is pierced it might have contained incense or have been a brush pot. Compare a related openwork brazier or incense stick holder, 22.7 cm high, in the Art Institute of Chicago, accession number 1997.453. Compare a related longquan openwork vessel, 22.6 cm high, dated to the Ming dynasty, in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, accession number EA1980.354.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 24 March 2011, lot 1648
Price: USD 50,000 or approx. EUR 64,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare Longquan celadon candle holder, Ming dynasty, 15th-16th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and glaze. Note the larger size (23.1 cm).