Page 34 - Bonhams Ming and Qing Cloisonne Hong Kong December 2, 2021

Image courtesy of the Palace Museum, Beijing
北京故宮博物院藏

The present incense burner is remarkable for its large size which is 爐筆洗式，圓形，朝冠式雙耳，垂雲式三足。內壁及底鍍金，外壁以
unusual for early Ming cloisonné enamel wares. Its robust form and 天藍色琺瑯為地，飾纏枝勾蓮紋，內填紅、姜黃、寶藍、綠、白、等
crispy decoration, achieved by the artisans via the use of primary 顏色琺瑯，色調濃郁，掐絲精細，花朵飽滿，花筋葉脈轉折流暢，釉
colours and simple, regulated composition, are characteristic of the 面光潤悉尼，釉色豐富明亮，具有明道早期琺瑯釉彩的特點，為明代
finest cloisonné enamel wares produced in the 15th century. 內廷造掐絲琺瑯器典型且稍有之例。

The scrolling lotus design has been inspired by Tibetan Buddhist 此爐外壁所飾之纏枝勾蓮紋在明早期官窯瓷器上亦有多見，此種紋飾
motifs which gained much popularity amongst the Imperial court 在藏傳佛教藝術上也有出現，這可能和明永樂、宣德兩朝為鞏固團
from as early as the Yongle period. The swooping C-shaped leafy 結，對吐蕃寄烏斯藏採取封賞通貢的和平政策有關。
branches and large lotus blooms closely resemble decorations found
on contemporary blue and white ware, indicating a close relationship 北京故宮博物院藏有一件銅胎掐絲琺瑯勾蓮紋雙耳三足洗式爐，年
between porcelain production and cloisonné wares made for the 代定位明洪武/永樂，亦帶有原裝朝冠式耳，以及一件類似的銅胎掐
Imperial court. 絲琺瑯獅耳三足香薰，可資比較參考，《中國金銀玻璃琺瑯器全集5
：琺瑯器（一）河北，2001年，編號19及20》。另見英國布里斯托
A closely related incense burner in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 城市博物館藏一件類似的三足爐，亦帶有原裝朝冠耳（博物館編號
together with a similar tripod incense burner, but flanked with a pair N8195）
of gilt-bronze handles cast in the form of dragons and with a cover,
Hongwu/Yongle period, are illustrated in Zhongguo jinyin boli falangqi 此類明早期洗式三足爐，亦見有後配雙耳之例子，如法國巴黎裝飾藝
quanji: 5: falangqi vol.1, Hebei, 2001, nos.19 and 20. See also a third 術博物館藏一例，曾與英國東方陶瓷協會展出《The Arts of the Ming
similar incense burner with original handles such as the present lot at Dynasty》，倫敦，1957年，編號317，以及於紐約展出《Cloisonné:
the Bristol City Art Gallery (acc.no.N8195). Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties》，紐
約，2011年，編號22。
See also an incense burner of this type, but with later added gilt-metal
handles in the form of stylised birds, in the Musée des Arts Decoratifs, 另見西班牙著名藏家Juan Jose Amezaga舊藏一件類似的明宣德纏
Paris, illustrated by B.Quette, ed., Cloisonné: Chinese Enamels from 枝勾蓮紋朝冠耳三足爐，於香港佳士得售出，2015年12月2日，拍
the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, New York, 2011, no.22. 品編號3106。另見倫敦佳士得曾售出一例，2020年11月3日，拍品
編號79。
Compare also a similar cloisonné enamel tripod incense burner,
Xuande period, from the collection of Juan Jose Amezaga, which was
sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 2 December 2015, lot 3106. See also a
large cloisonné enamel ‘lotus’ tripod censer, 15th-16th century, which
was sold at Christie’s London, 3 November 2020, lot 79.

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