This imposing and brilliantly enamelled incense burner was most likely the centrepiece for a five-piece altar garniture, flanked by a pair of candlesticks and gu vases. Of ding form, based on the shape of archaic ritual vessels of the Shang dynasty, its cauldron-like shape supported on three curved legs reflect the predilection in the Qing dynasty for vessels in the form of archaic bronzes of the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Although altar wares could be manufactured in a variety of materials and interpretations of the floral scroll motif, the original profile of the archaic models was retained. The Qianlong emperor had a keen interested in Buddhism and during his reign various temples were built throughout the empire for which such garnitures were produced. See a ruby-ground set in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum’s exhibition A Special Exhibition of Incense Burners and Perfumers Throughout the Dynasties, Taipei, 1994, cat. no. 105. Censers of this type were produced in a variety of coloured grounds; a slightly smaller ruby-ground example was sold in these rooms, 1st November 1999, lot 446; and two yellow-ground censers sold in our New York rooms, the first, 29th November 1988, lot 206, the second, 17th September 1998, lot 262. Compare also a doucai censer of this type, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Geng Baochang, Gugong Bowuguan cang gu taoci ciliao xuancui [Selection of ancient ceramic material from the Palace Museum], Beijing, 2005, vol. II, pl. 214.
