Page 224 - Christie's, Important Chinese Works of Art, Hong Kong Dec 3 2021

~3031
A HUANGHUALI RECTANGULAR INCENSE
STAND, XIANGJI
LATE MING-EARLY QING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY
The top is set in a square frame above the narrow waist and the
plain apron, all resting on elegantly curved cabriole legs ending in
upturned tendril ball-shaped feet.
34 in. (86.5 cm.) high, 25 in. (63.5 cm.) wide,
18æ in. (47.5 cm.) deep
HK$3,000,000-5,000,000 US$390,000-650,000

明末 / 清初 黃花梨束腰長方香几
Incense and other aromatics have been burned in Chinese culture
since the Han dynasty and were used for both, secular and religious
purposes. Censers were used not only to burn incense, but also to hold
a variety of aromatic substances that can slowly release their scent.
Censers and their stands would be placed in interiors, in Imperial
offices, private residences but could also be placed in places of worship
or used outdoors. Therefore, incense stands have become a standard
piece within Chinese furniture for any individual who could afford luxury
goods. The high waist and the graceful undulations suggest this stand
could probably linked to Buddhism. High waisted pedestal stands,
xumizuo, were commonly placed in front of Buddhist images. For
further discussion on the use and shape of incense stands, see Wang
Shixiang, Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing
Dynasties, Hong Kong, 1990, vol.1, p.52-54.
This item is made of a type of Dalbergia wood which is subject to CITES export/
import restrictions since 2 January 2017. This item can only be shipped to
addresses within Hong Kong or collected from our Hong Kong saleroom and office
unless a CITES re-export permit is granted. Please contact the department for
further information.
中國的焚香文化源遠流長，最早可追溯到漢代香爐用途廣泛，可供燒香
拜神，也能焚蘭塭麝，多置官府，邸舍，以及廟宇，室內外皆宜。香几，
顧名思義，即陳放香爐的台几。有別於榻案一類實用家具，香几更屬奢
華象徵。香几外型傾向修長，結構工整對稱，一般不靠牆，而立於廳堂
中央，使熏香時氤氯四溢。除焚香外，於明代木刻版畫所見，香几亦可
擱石，置尊插花，或陳列珍玩。為香几的性能及形狀，請参閱王世襄《中
國傢具賞鑒 — 明代與清代早期》，香港，1990 年，卷二，頁 52 至 54。
本拍賣品由黃檀屬的木製造而成。從 2017 年 1 月 2 日起，所有由黃檀屬的木
製成的物品受 CITES 出入口管制。除非獲得 CITES 再出口許可，此拍賣品只
可運送至香港境內的地址或從我們的香港拍賣場提取。請與專家部門聯繫以
瞭解詳情。

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