Bronze Incense Burner With Dragons And Sacred Pearl. Japan, 19th Century.

Small cast bronze incense burner. The main body, decorated in relief with Ho-ho (phoenix), is supported by 3 columns around which dragons coil. The handles are in the form of stylized Buddhist lions. The sacred pearl, always chased by dragons, appears here placed on the base between the three columns, in the form of a gilded bronze sphere, below which stands the stylized chrysanthemum flower, an imperial symbol ensuring stability. The incense receptacle is dislocated. It is very likely that there was a lid, but this is not certain because the aesthetic balance of the object is such that further elevation would not be desirable. Furthermore, there are no signs of wear that a lid would have caused. It is a beautiful object of rare elegance and fine quality that stands out from the vulgar bronzes that were cast in large numbers during this period. Height: 26cm