Republic Famille Rose Rectangular Incense Holder With Poems, Dated 1945

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A finely painted Republic-period porcelain incense holder, decorated in soft famille-rose enamels with a lady in a garden on one … Read more A finely painted Republic-period porcelain incense holder, decorated in soft famille-rose enamels with a lady in a garden on one side and a bird among blossoms on the other. Both narrow ends are pierced with interlocking double-coin vents, allowing the piece to be used upright for stick incense or horizontally for pellets or aromatic pastilles. Two poetic inscriptions—each referencing spring air, movement, and fragrance—frame the imagery. Dated Summer of 1945 and signed “written at Zhushan,” the famous decorators’ quarter of Jingdezhen.
This graceful scholar’s-desk object with its rare dual-orientation design is perfect for a collector or as a quietly elegant accent in your home.

JUNE'S THOUGHTS
At first glance I thought this was a Chinese brick-form pillow, but when I turned it over I was thrilled to discover that it’s actually a scholar’s object—a porcelain brick-form incense burner. It’s collectible, decorative, and, best of all, it still has a purpose that fits beautifully into today's home.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE
This rectangular incense holder is an uncommon Republic-period form. The sealed body and double-coin vents at both ends indicate a dual-use fragrance design, allowing it to stand upright for stick incense or rest horizontally for pellets, with each painted scene oriented correctly in one of those two positions. The inscriptions add further distinction: two complementary verses evoking spring breezes and drifting fragrance — “Green grasses dance with the wind” and “Emerald willows play in the sounds of spring.” Pieces that combine dated inscriptions, poetic content, and intact famille-rose decoration in this rare form are notably scarce, making this an appealing addition for collectors of scholar’s objects.

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