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A FINE EMBELLISHED ZITAN 'DOUBLE GOURDS' INCENSE TOOL VASE 17th/18th century image 1
A FINE EMBELLISHED ZITAN 'DOUBLE GOURDS' INCENSE TOOL VASE 17th/18th century image 2
Lot 54Y

A FINE EMBELLISHED ZITAN 'DOUBLE GOURDS' INCENSE TOOL VASE
17th/18th century

14 May 2025, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

£2,000 - £3,000

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A FINE EMBELLISHED ZITAN 'DOUBLE GOURDS' INCENSE TOOL VASE

17th/18th century
The cylindrical body rising from a raised foot ring to a lipped rim, adorned with intricate inlays of mother-of-pearl, red aventurine, coral, soapstone, stained horn, and malachite, in the design of a gnarled tree bearing double gourds and leafy tendrils, the wood of a dark brown tone with dense grains.
9cm (3 1/2in) high.

Footnotes

十七/十八世紀 紫檀嵌寶瓜瓞綿綿紋香具筒

The double gourd (hulu) symbolises good fortune, health, and longevity, with its shape representing harmony and its seeds fertility. It is also linked to Daoist Immortals and the Elixir of Life. Incense tool vases, used to hold implements for managing incense, combined practicality with refined aesthetics, reflecting their owner's taste and ritual practices. Compare with inlaid zitan brushpots of similar size, Qing dynasty, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Small Refined Articles of the Study, 2009, Shenzhen, pp.66-67.

See a small hardstone-inlaid zitan brushpot, 19th century, which was sold by Sotheby's Hong Kong, 27 May 2014, lot 23.

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