Handcrafted by Chinese Artist, CH, c. 1880s.
A bronze incense holder in the form of an eggplant — the bulbous body raised on three short feet, the calyx and stem rendered in relief at the crown. The eggplant carries longstanding associations with good fortune in Chinese material culture, making it a recurring subject in scholar's objects intended for the study or tea room. The deep, even patina points to late Qing manufacture, when naturalistic bronze forms of this kind were produced for literati interiors. Versatile in placement — equally at home on a desk, shelf, or tea table.
Sold individually.