Lot 3181. A Longquan celadon censer, Ming dynasty, 15th century, 4 in. (10.3 cm.) high, Japanese wood box. EstimateHKD 400,000 - HKD 600,000 (USD 51,582 - USD 77,373). Unsold. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The vessel is potted with a compressed form with a pair of stylized fish-form handles. It is supported on a small straight foot. The censer is covered overall in an olive-green glaze.

Provenance: Sekido Family (Sokaken) Collection, Nagoya
A Japanese private collection, Nagoya, formed in the first half of the 20th century

Literature: Auction of the Sekido Family Collection, Nagoya Bijutsu Club, 1935, lot 181 (fig. 1)

fig. 1

Note: The Japanese bronze cover accompanying this lot bears the signature Nakagawa Joeki zo. (fig. 2) Nakagawa Joeki’s (10th generation (1880-1940) family of metal artists has worked in Kyoto from the early Edo period. The first generation, Nakagawa Yojuro (1559-1622), took the name of Shoeki, and all of the succeeding generations the name Joeki.

 fig. 2

Christie's. The Imperial Sale / Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 31 May 2017, Convention Hall