Incense burner
Unknown
Category
Ceramics
Date
c. 1700 - 1799
Materials
Ceramics, porcelain, blanc de chine
Place of origin
Dehua
Order this imageCollection
Stourhead, Wiltshire
NT 730491
Summary
A pair of incense burners, Dehua porcelian (blanc de chine), Dehua, Fujian, China, 18th century. An incense burner moulded as a guardian lion sits with its paw on a ball. Unmarked. In the symbolism of East Asian Buddhism, lions were seen as guardians of the Buddhist law. Pairs of sculptures depictng such lions (usually a male with his paw on a ball and a female with her paw on a lion cub) were traditionally situated at the entrances to temples, palaces and other important buildings.
Provenance
Listed in the 'Inventory of Furniture, Bedding, Carpets, China, Plate, Pictures, Curios, and other effects on the premises of the mansion,' January 1908, in the Wavenden China Cabinet, as 'One pair of 5" white Sevres China Dragons' (page 126). Bequeathed by Sir Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare, 6th Bt (1865 – 1947), 1946.
Makers and roles
Unknown, manufacturer