19th C. Japanese Bronze Elephant Pagoda Incense Burner

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Exceptional Finds | Ancient, Asian, Ethno, Fi...

By Artemis Fine Arts

Mar 20, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-03-20 10:00:00 2025-03-20 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Finds | Ancient, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-finds-ancient-asian-ethno-fine-art-18151
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• Lot Description
  East Asia, Japan, Meiji Era, ca. 19th century CE. An elaborate gilt-bronze incense burner crafted in four sections: a hollow elephant vessel, and a two-tiered pagoda resting on its back - the windows allow fragrant smoke to escape. The pagoda is three pieces: a hexagonal base with dangling pendants, the lower level, and the upper level, both featuring dramatically curved eaves that reflect classic Chinese architectural elements, and a dragon entwines the pinnacle. A blanket drapes over the elephant's back, featuring relief carvings of a dragon on each side, depicted with three claws per foot, which identifies it as Japanese, distinct from the imperial Chinese version, which traditionally has four or five claws. At the rear of the blanket is an etched dragon turtle, a mythical creature with the body of a turtle and the head of a dragon. The underside of the elephant is stamped with a Japanese 6-character mark that computer translated as "Manufactured by Yoshi Fukui." Size: 17" L x 5" W x 20" H (43.2 cm x 12.7 cm x 50.8 cm); gold quality: 5% to 6%
  
  Although crafted in Japan, this incense burner blends both Chinese and Japanese elements. The design, featuring an elephant carrying a pagoda, originates from a Chinese motif that spread throughout East Asia, influenced by the rise of Buddhism. Elephants were symbols of wisdom, strength, happiness, and wealth in Chinese culture, and their depiction carrying objects or riders signified good fortune and abundance. The pagoda itself are structures that house relics, scriptures, or images of the Buddha, its sweeping eaves and tiered structure, is said to represent the connection between the heavens and the earth, with the upward-reaching spire symbolizing the aspiration toward spiritual growth and transcendence. Additionally, the homophonic relationship between the Chinese words for "elephant" (xiang) and "fragrance" (xiang) made the elephant a popular form for incense burners. While elephants are not native to Japan, they were legendary animals, with records of them being shipped to the islands by boat as lavish gifts as early as the 15th century and continuing into later centuries. The elephant in this piece reflects stylistic influences from Ming Dynasty sculpture (1368- 1644), evident in its spherical lion-like paws, upward-curving cobra-like trunk, and long tail curled elegantly into an S-shape. The production of such decorative objects flourished in Kyoto, where former swordsmiths turned to crafting bronze goods.
  
  Provenance: private Culver City, California, USA collection, by inheritance, collected 1970s to 1980s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #191891

  Condition

  Heavy mineral encrustations to the interior of elephant and uppermost finial from incense residue and soot. Upper finial has losses and pitting to the lower edge, possibly from heavy use. Oxidation and weathering to roof area. Missing 3 dangling sharms and loss to roof projection. Lower roof is missing a dangling charm. Missing 2 charms on base element. Missing charms on elephant, entire row of charms on the dragon panel are missing. Neck charm is reattached with modern wire. Fading and losses to gilt. Dust and debris accumulated in the recessed areas, and needs a light cleaning with compressed air. Despite evident heavy use as a burner, overall nice preservation to main elements and patina throughout.
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