11/04/2026
Antique Chinese Cloisonné Enamel Tripod Censer with Qilin Finial, Qianlong Mark.
https://ebay.us/m/5acgLO
Fine Cloisonné Enamel Tripod Censer with Qilin Finial, Qianlong Mark.
精美景泰蓝三足鼎式香炉,麒麟盖钮,乾隆御製玺文款。[etsy +1]
This exceptional cloisonné enamel tripod censer, dating to circa 1849–1899 in the late Qing dynasty (Daoguang to Guangxu reigns), represents the zenith of imperial-inspired metalworking fused with Byzantine-derived enameling techniques refined in China since the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). The robust bronze body employs the traditional cloisonné process: thin silver or brass wires soldered in intricate cells (cloisons) filled with ground glass enamels fired at 800–900°C, then polished and gilded for luster—yielding a turquoise-dominant palette symbolizing heaven and immortality.[idcpc +1]
The compressed baluster form, elevated on three cabriole feet terminating in fierce lion masks (shishi), evokes archaic Zhou bronze dings for ritual continuity, while the hexagonal cover with angular tab handles ascends to a dynamic qilin finial—half-deer, half-dragon, embodying benevolence and Confucian harmony. Vibrant enamels burst with yangcai florals: peonies for wealth, lotus scrolls for purity, chrysanthemums for longevity, and ruyi clouds amid taotie masks and lappet borders, all against a rich turquoise ground heightened by aubergine, crimson, and gilt accents. Approximate dimensions align with period examples: height 25–29 cm, mouth diameter 9–10 cm, handle span 22–23 cm, weight 1.9–2.3 kg, indicating thick-gauge bronze substrate.[etsy +3]
A central rectangular plaque, framed by confronting chi dragons chasing flaming pearls amid turbulent waves, bears the four-character square seal “Qianlong Yuzhi” (乾隆御製)—“Imperial commission of the Qianlong emperor”—in archaic zhuanshu script, apocryphal yet prestigious, invoking the Qianlong era’s (1736–1795) golden age of cloisonné patronage under the Zaobanchu imperial workshops. Repeated on base and feet, this mark elevates the censer’s aura for scholar-altar use in Buddhist incense rites or ancestral veneration, where smoke wafts through pierced apertures evoking ethereal dragons. Verdigris patina, enamel crazing, and minor losses attest authentic age and handling.[sothebys +2]
此精美景泰蓝三足鼎式香炉,约1849–1899年清道光至光绪晚期之作,融元代(1271–1368)传入之拜占庭珐琅工艺与本土青铜铸就巅峰。铜胎掐丝法精妙:银黄铜丝焊就细格,填磨玻璃釉800–900℃烧成,抛光镀金,呈碧玺主调,寓天界永生。
葫芦状腹三螭足狮面鼎,仿周礼器;六角盖角耳升麒麟钮,半鹿龙身表仁和。阳彩花卉烂漫:牡丹富贵、莲枝纯净、菊寿、如意云饕餮垂莲边饰,碧地辅紫红金。高25–29厘米,口径9–10厘米,柄宽22–23厘米,重1.9–2.3公斤,厚铜胎。
中央双螭戏珠方玺钮,四字“乾隆御製”篆书,仿乾隆朝(1736–1795)造办处御器,尊贵伪款,屡现基足。用于佛堂祖祀,烟岚穿孔化龙。铜锈釉裂损迹,证真迹。[orientalantiques +3]