A PAIR OF MASSIVE CLOISONNÉ AND CHAMPLEVÉ ENAMEL CRANE-FORM CENSERS

A PAIR OF MASSIVE CLOISONNÉ AND CHAMPLEVÉ ENAMEL CRANE-FORM CENSERS

19TH CENTURY

Each crane is shown standing on a colorful, grassy mound interspersed with orchids and lingzhi that is raised on a waisted, hexagonal base decorated around the sides with lotus scroll and gilt petal-lappet bands, and each grasps in its beak a stem of lingzhi that forms a pricket candlestick. The body is white with a dense pattern of gilt wires, and the separately made wings, which form the cover for the opening at the back of the body, have small turquoise and large, dark greyish-blue feathers similar to the tail feathers. The legs are detachable at the body and the base.

94 in. (238.8 cm.) high approximately