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A PARTIALLY GILT AND LACQUERED BRONZE CENSER
A PARTIALLY GILT AND LACQUERED BRONZE CENSER
Japan, 17th-18th century
Rectangular section with four curved legs, the corners highlighted by indentation, two high curved handles, on each side a floral composition in relief within a cartouche reserved on a black ground, incised three-character mark to the center of the base, lid missing.
13,5 x 15 x 8 cm
Provenance: Italian private collection.
This censer belongs to a type known by the term 'Sawasa', which should derive from "Saussa", a transliteration of shakudo, a Japanese word that identifies a particular metal processing.
Recent studies, included in the volume Sawasa: Japanese Export Art in Black and Gold 1650-1800 (Amsterdam 1998), have shown that these artefacts - previously considered to be produced in southern China - were actually produced in Nagasaki, probably with the collaboration of Chinese artisans, and exported throughout Asia and in smaller quantities to Europe.
A censer very similar to this one, complete with lid with finial as a lion, was sold at Bonham's San Francisco, 28 June 2016, lot 8160.
Live auction 305
Asian and Tribal Art
Palazzo Caetani Lovatelli, thu 27 June 2024
SINGLE SESSION 27/06/2024 Hours 11:00