Carved white jade incense-holder, Qing dynasty

A carved white jade cylinder with a hollow interior and lid, designed to hold fine incense sticks. The shape is completely slender, elongated and rounded, with the exterior adorned with a continuous incised scene of a beautiful pond filled with bamboo leaves and blooming lotuses where a pair of mandarin ducks ‘鴛鴦’, a symbol of eternal love and happiness, swim peacefully. At the top of the lid, a small carp with a curled-up body can be seen diving into the water next to a reed. Along the rim of the body and lid is a decorative border with geometric motifs. 

The ‘香筒’ (xiāng tong) incense tubes are usually shown in cylindrical or scroll form and are usually decorated with sacred texts, landscapes or relief details, and are sometimes accompanied by decorative cords. Incense, in the Chinese tradition, has been used since ancient times for spiritual and purification purposes. 

Height: 17.2 cm; Diameter: 3.8 cm

Weight: 370 g