Incense burner

Incense-burner: a standing elephant surmounted by a pagoda-shaped structure; a figure of Li T’ieh-kuai [CHN]. In two sections.
Clay: hard, fine, gray.
Glaze: lustrous blue-gray clouded with yellow; yellow, blue-green, lavender, blue, white and blackish-brown in local areas.

Historical period(s)
Qing dynasty, mid 17th-late 19th century
Medium
Stoneware with iron wash and white, ivory, copper-green, and cobalt-blue glazes
Style
Shiwan (Shekwan) ware
Dimensions
H (overall): 108.1 cm (42 9/16 in)
Geography
China, Guangdong province, Foshan, Shiwan (Shekwan) kilns
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1900.57a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Incense burner

Keywords
China, elephant, Guangdong ware, incense, man, pagoda, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Shiwan ware, stoneware
Provenance

To 1900
Jean Pallotti, Florence to 1900 [1]

From 1900 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Jean Pallotti, Florence in 1900 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 827, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Jean Pallotti
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Description

Incense-burner: a standing elephant surmounted by a pagoda-shaped structure; a figure of Li T'ieh-kuai [CHN]. In two sections.
Clay: hard, fine, gray.
Glaze: lustrous blue-gray clouded with yellow; yellow, blue-green, lavender, blue, white and blackish-brown in local areas.

Published References
  • Paul S. Ropp. China in World History. New York. frontispiece.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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