Bonhams. Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Paintings, New York, 20 Sep 2021
A cloisonné enamel tripod censer, li, Ming Dynasty, First half of the 16th century
Lot 175. A cloisonné enamel tripod censer, li, Ming Dynasty, First half of the 16th century; 4 1/2 x 4 1/2in (11.4 x 11.4cm). Estimate US$ 15,000 - 20,000 (€ 13,000 - 17,000). Sold for US$ 9,562 (€ 8,152). © Bonhams 2001-2021
Decorated with clusters of deep purple grapes on a scrolling vines with deep green leaves and blue florets on a white ground.
Provenance: Roger Keverne Ltd., London, 28 June 1999
Note: For two similarly decorated cloisonné censers, li, with grape vine decoration, one with a white ground, see Helmut Brinker & Albert Lutz, Chinese Cloisonné: The Pierre Uldry Collection, New York, Asia Society Galleries, 1989, No's. 42-43, pp. 104-108 and another is illustrated by Sir Harry Garner, Chinese and Japanese Cloisonné Enamels, London, 1962, pl. 40c, pp. 56 & 74.
See also Yang Boda (ed.) The Complete Collection of Chinese of Chinese Gold and Silver, Glass Enamelware, Vol. 5, (Zhongguo jinyin boli falangqi quanji - 5 - falangqi (1), Beijing, 2002, No's. 28-30, pp. 26-27, for several similarly examples in the Beijing Palace Museum Collection.
Another censer with grapes on a turquoise ground is illustrated in Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, National Palace Museum, 1999, p. 71, no. 5.