A rare turquoise-glazed tripod incense burner, Mark and period of Yongzheng. Estimate 500,000 — 700,000 HKD. Unsold. Photo courtesy Sotheby's

finely potted with bombé sides rising to a slightly lipped mouthrim, surmounted by a pair of upright arched handles, all supported on three short tapering feet, vividly applied overall save for the base and the central interior with a bright translucent turquoise glaze, the biscuit base relief-moulded with a reign mark in three columns, concluding with an artemesia leaf, all within a raised double-circle, wood stand; 10.1 cm., 4 in.

Notes: It is extremely rare to find a turquoise-glazed incense burner of this form inscribed with a Yongzheng reign mark, and the combination of artemisia mark is all the rarer. Artemisia marks are almost exclusively restricted to the Kangxi period, where they are frequently found in the place of reign marks on the base of porcelain vessels. It is rare to find raised marks in relief, but they are occasionally found on biscuit brushpots, such as a relief chrysanthemum on a rare green-glazed bamboo-imitation brushpot in the Ashfield collection, no. PB3. This, however is the only recorded example on a Yongzheng reign-marked porcelain vessel, suggesting that it was produced at the beginning of the reign. Certainly, the form and glaze texture is consistent with other Kangxi examples, such as the incense burner of similar tripod form sold in these rooms, 29th November 1977, lot 81.

The only other recorded turquoise-glazed vessel dated to the Yongzheng period appears to be another tripod incense burner sold in our London rooms, 12th May 1989, lot 483. It is inscribed Yongzheng shinian shiyue ershiba to Shiyitang zhi,which translates as 'Made for the Hall of Gaining Understanding on the 28th day of the 10th month of the Yongzheng period'.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Works of Art, Hong Kong, 07 avr. 2015