Delicately carved from dense, lustrous zitan, this elegant vase rises from a gently splayed foot to a mouth finely shaped as overlapping flower petals. The deeply burnished surface reveals the subtle purple-brown hue characteristic of this rare and precious hardwood. Refined in both material and form, the vessel would have graced a scholar’s or connoisseur’s studio, holding implements for the incense ceremony—a practice blending ritual, contemplation, and artistry. The soft sheen and understated sophistication attest to the enduring appeal of zitan craftsmanship at its height.
A zitan incense tool vase (Qing dynasty)
Description
Dimensions: 12cm high, 6.4cm wide
Provenance:
A private Scandinavian collection, acquired in the 1980s
Delicately carved from dense, lustrous zitan, this elegant vase rises from a gently splayed foot to a mouth finely shaped as overlapping flower petals. The deeply burnished surface reveals the subtle purple-brown hue characteristic of this rare and precious hardwood. Refined in both material and form, the vessel would have graced a scholar’s or connoisseur’s studio, holding implements for the incense ceremony—a practice blending ritual, contemplation, and artistry. The soft sheen and understated sophistication attest to the enduring appeal of zitan craftsmanship at its height.
Compare a similar zitan tool vase, inlaid with silver wire and dated to the Ming dynasty, preserved in the collection of the Shanghai Museum and published by the Cernuschi Museum, Paris, in ‘Parfums de Chine: La Culture de l’Encens au Temps des Empereurs,’ 2018, pl. 71.
