A LAPIS LAZULI TRIPOD CENSER AND COVER, QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

A LAPIS LAZULI TRIPOD CENSER AND COVER

QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

清十九世紀 青金石雕饕餮紋龍耳活環龍鈕三足蓋爐

of bombé form set over three mask-and-claw-form feet, the exterior carved in high relief with foliage and abstract taotie masks, the rim set with a pair of elaborate openwork dragon-head handles each with the mouth open revealing the fangs and issuing wisps of qi, a loose ring suspended from each handle, the domed cover with a matching taotie band interspersed with three rams carved in the round atop lingzhi-form clouds, the openwork finial in the form of a coiled dragon clasping a 'Flaming Pearl', wood stand (3)

Width 8½ in., 21.6 cm