Carved wooden chenxiangmu ritual censer, Qing dynasty

It consists of two parts made of carved Chenxiangmu wood. The upper part is in the form of a large bowl with rounded walls that tapers towards the mouth. The surface is decorated with details in low relief, showing a continuous scene of seven buddhas, seated on lotus thrones, with their hands forming various mudras. All of this takes place against a background of sinuous, auspicious clouds, framed by an upper border of ruyis and a lower border of small petals. The foot that supports the censer is free-standing, in the shape of an hourglass, which gives the piece greater stability. The outside of the piece has a network of twisted clouds with openwork, incised and embossed details that cover the entire piece except for the area in contact with the censer. 

On the base of the vessel there are three engraved inscriptions, the first of which is arranged in the form of a circle, to be read clockwise, which reads: ‘大隋大业七年辛未岁七月甲申朔二日乙西造邑主王以成’. The next two inscriptions are arranged vertically in the centre of the circle; the first one consists of six lines with a total of 46 characters ‘塔在上方山寺，盘围一丈八尺，字径六寸，前人皆未集录。乾隆癸卯火焚，塔虽重建，而此刻遂亡，因缩刻以存其制’; and next to this is placed on the left side, the signature and seal ‘廷济’ ‘张叔未’. 

Chenxiangmu wood is one of the most appreciated in Chinese culture for its medicinal and aromatic qualities, being even used as incense. There are few large-scale figures carved from this wood, as it is extremely rare. These types of objects are usually closely related to the Buddhist religion, where they are used as elements for worship, prayer and ceremony. Qing Dynasty (1644 and 1912).

Height: 26.50 cm, Largest diameter: 24 cm

Weight: 1253 g