A small turquoise-glazed tripod censer, Mark and period of Yongzheng | 清雍正 孔雀藍釉雙耳三足爐 《大清雍正年製》款

Marchant & Son, London.

馬錢特，倫敦

It is extremely rare to find a turquoise-glazed incense burner of this form inscribed with a Yongzheng reign mark, and in combination of the artemisia mark is all the rarer. Turquoise-glazed tripod incense burner of this form are more commonly associated with the Kangxi reign, such as an example sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 29th November 1977, lot 81.

Only one other turquoise-glazed tripod incense burner inscribed with a hall mark and dated to the Yongzheng reign appears to be recorded, sold in these room rooms, 12th May 1989, lot 483.

Artemisia marks are almost exclusively restricted to the Kangxi period (r. 1662-1722), where they are frequently found in the place of reign marks on the base of porcelain vessels. There are usually not found on Yongzheng ceramics which may suggest that the present vessel was produced at the beginning of the reign.