A small Charcoal burner, Tianqi/Chongzhen (1621-1644).

Decorated with a sage and his attendant in a garden landscape, below the brown dressed rim are alternating key-fret and spiral design. The interior of the container is unglazed except for the area below the rim. Diameter 10.8 cm. Height 8 cm.

Glaze fritts.

Provenance

Property of a private collector.
Purchased from Shangrila Antiques, Amsterdam, 2022.

Exhibitions

Compare a wucai charcoal burner sold at Sothebys, lot 186. Chinese Art. 19 March 2024, New York.

More information

Whilst this vessel may be considered to be a incense burner it is plausible that the object is connected with the use of tobacco, a fashionable pasttime in the 17th century Japan. Containers of this type, called iire in Japan, were used to place charcoal or hot ashes from whice a pipe could be lit.

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