17th Century Beautiful Chinese Porcelain Incense Burner - Censer

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Description

A vintage Chinese decorative incense lantern, featuring an octagonal shape with openwork panels, a stylized dragon motif in yellow and … Read more A vintage Chinese decorative incense lantern, featuring an octagonal shape with openwork panels, a stylized dragon motif in yellow and green, and traditional coin symbols incorporated into its design.

This object appears to be a Chinese porcelain incense burner (also known as a censer) or a decorative lamp holder. Specifically, it is a hexagonal, "pierced" or "openwork" piece, characterized by its intricate cut-out designs that allow light or smoke to escape.
This piece is decorated in the famille verte or su sancai style, which typically uses a palette of green, yellow, and aubergine (purple) enamels.
Design: It features "pierced" openings often shaped like ancient Chinese coins (round with a square hole) and is frequently adorned with dragon or floral motifs.
Symbolism: The top often includes a cutout of the "卍" (wan) character, a symbol of good fortune and longevity.
Origins: Similar pieces have been attributed to the Qing Dynasty (specifically the Kangxi or Qianlong periods), though many modern reproductions also exist. See less