Ru Ware Openwork Scroll Lotus-Form Tripod Incense Burner, Northern Song Dynasty (11th–12th Century)

拍品描述

Dimensions: Height 13.5 cm (approximately 5.31 inches, 0.44 feet); diameter 16 cm (approximately 6.30 inches, 0.52 feet); 11th–12th century, Northern Song DynastyCondition & Provenance: Overall well preserved, with the fitted cover and body intact, the openwork decoration well retained, and all three feet complete. The glaze displays an extensive network of crackle, scattered pale brown staining, and firing characteristics consistent with the appearance of the piece. Private collection, Hong Kong.Description: This covered censer is constructed in two sections, comprising a domed openwork cover and a compressed globular body raised on three sturdy feet. The cover is crowned by a finely modeled lotus-bud finial, giving the vessel a graceful vertical accent above its broad, rounded profile. The body is generously proportioned, with a gently constricted mouth and a closely fitted cover, while the three short feet provide a stable architectural base. The vessel is covered inside and out with a softly luminous blue-green glaze of pale sky-blue tone. The surface is animated by an intricate network of fine crackle, portions of which have developed subtle brown coloration, creating a quiet visual contrast against the restrained celadon ground. Both the domed cover and the principal decorative register of the body are pierced with openwork scrolling foliage. The curling, interlocking forms create an elegant rhythm of positive and negative space while serving the practical purpose of allowing incense smoke to escape through the vessel. The rounded edges of the pierced decoration and the fluid movement of the scrollwork give the censer a particularly sculptural presence. The underside is likewise glazed, while the ends of the three feet expose the body beneath; small firing marks are visible on the base. Combining a sky-blue glaze, crackled surface, openwork carving, lotus-bud finial, and balanced tripod form, the censer presents the restrained color, elegant proportions, and sophisticated decorative detail closely associated with the aesthetic ideals of Song-period ceramics.

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