A BAMBOO INCENSE STICK HOLDER

QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD (1744–1795), POSSIBLY IMPERIAL

HEIGHT: 24.8CM

The bamboo openwork cylinder is carved with various scenes of figures captured in scholarly pursuits, such as discussing literature, admiring the landscape and lighting incense or playing the qin. The banded registers are decorated with scrolling archaistic ‘kuei’ dragons carved in relief above a keyfret ground.

清乾隆竹透雕文會圖香籠