A rare Guan incense holder Hangzhou, Southern Song dynasty | 南宋 杭州官窰四管香插

Collection of Dr Carl Kempe (1884-1967), no. CK136.

Sotheby's London, 14th May 2008, lot 308.

卡爾肯普博士（1884-1967年）收藏，編號CK136

倫敦蘇富比2008年5月14日，編號308

Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 136.

Chinese Ceramic Treasures. A Selection from the Ulricehamn East Asian Museum, Including the Carl Kempe Collection, Ulricehamn, 2002, pl. 356.

Bo Gyllensvärd，《Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection》，斯德哥爾摩，1964年，圖版136

《博物館珍藏的精品：中國陶器及其它》，烏爾里瑟港，2002年，圖版356

Ju and Kuan Wares. Imperial Wares of the Sung Dynasty, Related Wares and Derivatives of Later Date, The Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1952, cat. no. 53, illustrated, pl. 4.

《Ju and Kuan Wares. Imperial Wares of the Sung Dynasty, Related Wares and Derivatives of Later Date》，東方陶瓷協會，倫敦，1952年，編號53，圖版4

Guan ware, the fabled 'official ware' specially created for the imperial court of the Southern Song in Hangzhou in south China, is characterised by sophisticated simplicity. The exquisite glaze of the current incense holder was achieved through gradual application of multiple layers, the distinct crackle probably provoked by a well-controlled cooling process after the last firing, giving the whole piece a gem-like appearance, as if carved out of one boulder of a fine jade-like stone.

A closely related example, originally from the collection of Richard Bryant Hobart, was sold at Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., New York, 12th December 1969, lot 202, and again in our New York rooms, 22nd March 2011, lot 176, from the collection of J. T. Tai. It was included alongside the current example in the exhibition Ju and Kuan Wares. Imperial Wares of the Sung Dynasty, Related Wares and Derivatives of Later Date, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 12th November - 13th December 1952, cat. no. 59.