A rare Longquan celadon Hawk-form Censer. Ming dynasty, 15th-16th century

Heavily modeled as a hawk standing atop an openwork rock-form base, with head turned to the left and wings raised either side of the circular opening and cover in the center of the back, the beak partially open and the cover pierced for the release of smoke, detailed with carved feather markings and covered with a crackled sea-green glaze.<11½ in. (29.2 cm.) high, box  Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000

Provenance: Christie's, New York, 29 March 2006, lot 416.

Notes: Novelty incense burners in the form of birds were first introduced in the Han dynasty and enjoyed a fair amount of popularity in the Yuan, Ming and Qing periods. In Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, pp. 498-9, the author, Jessica Harrison Hall, illustrates a 12th-13th century bronze duck-form incense burner (no. 16:92 (fig.1) and three Longquan celadon bird-form censers dated 1450-1550, nos. 16:92 (a pair of water birds), 16:93 (a duck) and 16:94 (a parrot). See, also, the duck-form incense burner sold in these rooms, 19 September 2006, lot 230.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 17 September 2008. New York, Rockefeller Plaza. www.christies.com