439.
A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER AND COVER, DING
Qing dynasty, Qianlong period
12,5 cm high
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. 5233.
The shape of this incense burner is a free interpretation of the archaic ding. If the general structure in fact clearly resembles the proportions of those ritual cauldrons, with the three cylindrical legs supporting the body, this last one shows a more compressed shape with the walls elegantly flopping toward the mid section.
The decoration too presents a combination of motifs evidently inspired by archaic models, such as the leiwen frieze which underlines the mouth and the band with chilong dragons in pursuit of the flaming pearl on the shoulders, with patterns of later origins, especially the sequence of stylized leaves and the floral scroll which appear on the lower part of the body.
