Joss, Incense, Stick Holder

"A Chinese zitan joss stick (incense) holder, carved with high relief and openwork, the motif includes lotus blossoms and mandarin ducks, the lower portion of the piece having waves in relief, 8” x 7”, and dating from the 19th century, the Qing dynasty. This is a very rare object for the scholar’s table. Joss stick holders were generally made of bamboo, porcelain and/or hard stones. They were rarely produced in zitan. In China the lotus is a revered flower. It is the symbol of Buddha and of the purity of Buddhism. It was said that just as the lotus grows from the mud at the bottom of a pond it emerges beautiful and pure, the Buddha walked through the corruption of the world and remained pure and holy. Many Avalokitesvara are depicted holding a lotus. Flower symbolism has always been an important part of Chinese culture, in which the lotus represents summer. In China, ducks represent emblems of felicity and pairs of ducks were used in decorative arts as symbols of conjugal fidelity. It is thought that they pine away and die when separated form their mate. They are frequently represented in bird and flower fine art (Chinese paintings), where they are generally shown with the lotus. The aforementioned motif was used in Song paintings and herewith rendered to decorate a joss stick holder." - Bernie McManus, Appraiser, Woodbury House, Connecticut, 08/29/2006

Christie’s, New York City, The Gangolf Geis Collection of Fine Chinese Furniture, 9/18/2003, lot #53, sale #1330; A zitan lotus form brush pot, bitong, 17th/18th century of unusual form, naturalistically carved as an upturned lotus leaf with ruffled edges and veining, the sides carved in relief with lotus stems and lotus pod, the base similarly carved, 6 1/4 in. high, 5 in. diameter.