Incense Burner Carved In Turquoise. Decor Of Dragons And Buddhist Lions. China Qing Period.

Incense burner carved in turquoise, relief decoration of stylized dragons. The handles are in the shape of the heads of Buddhist lions. The cover is surmounted by a socket which is fixed by a screw cut in the stone. This censer is very elegant and of beautiful proportions, the sculptures are well executed. The stone has many defects (which are natural mineral inclusions) which did not put off the sculptor, it even seems that this stained effect was aesthetically sought. This kind of very stained turquoise seems to be typically Tibetan and it was the only turquoise used in China in the 18th century and probably until around the middle of the 19th century, a period during which the darker and purer turquoises from Australia or elsewere were imported, all those in which the chinese figurines are carved that are usually found in large quantities on the market. It should be noted that a single pearl of this Tibetan turquoise was worth a fortune if it was flawless. We believe this incense burner was carved in the early 19th century or earlier. Chinese work. A lid ring and part of its grip have been ostentatiously restored with gold lacquer, probably a Japanese Kinsugi restoration. It's very rare work of art.