A RARE YIXING STONEWARE TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER QING DYNASTY, SIGNED CHEN MINGYUAN

of archaistic ding form, modelled with a deep rounded body resting on three slightly tapered tubular legs, the galleried rim surmounted by a pair of arched handles, the exterior decorated with a frieze of six stylised dragons alternating with whorl bosses, all against a leiwen ground, above a band of pendent archaistic blades enclosing hooked 'V'-shaped motifs against a leiwen ground, the base impressed with a four-character seal reading Chen Mingyuan zhi ('Made by Chen Mingyuan'), the stoneware of a greyish-brown colour, wood stand

Du Yuesheng (1888-1951), Shanghai, and thence by descent.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 24th May 1978, lot 326.

Jan Shing-Hwa, I-hsing Pottery, Taipei, 1982, fig. 9.

The overall condition is very good, except for a few occasional minute shallow flakes, including two to the right handle (max. approx. 0.2 cm).
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This incense burner bears the seal mark of the master potter Chen Mingyuan, a native of Yixing in Jiangsu province, who is recorded as having been active in the Kangxi and Yongzheng reigns. Chen is considered one of the most talented and versatile Yixing potters, who produced numerous pieces in a variety of styles. Those of his works that imitated archaic bronzes were particularly highly regarded by contemporary connoisseurs. Wu Qian (1733-1813) in his Yangxian mingtao lu (Famous pottery of Yangxian) commented on an archaistic phoenix-shaped vessel with Mingyuan’s mark, “It is an elegant piece which compares favorably with the ancient vessels of the Three Dynasties” (see the exhibition catalogue Themes and Variations. The Zisha Pottery of Chen Mingyuan, Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, p. 61).

Compare an Yixing square ding in the K.S. Lo collection illustrated in The Stonewares of Yixing, Sotheby’s, London, 1986, pl.158; and a pair sold in these rooms, 24th May 1978, lot 329. Further vessels in the form of archaic bronzes and signed Chen Mingyuan include a gui in the collection of Alice Boney, published ibid., pl. 157; three jue included in the exhibition Themes and Variations, op. cit., cat. nos 47-49. Compare also an example of jue form sold in these rooms, 24th May 1978, lot 324, and another, from the collection of Mr and Mrs Jimmy Sha, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 27th May 2012, lot 550.