This tripod censer is believed to date from the reign of the Zhengde Emperor (1506–1521) to the early years of the Jiajing Emperor (1522–1540s) during the Ming dynasty. The cobalt blue pigment appears in a relatively soft grayish-blue tone, showing variations in shading and subtle bleeding beneath the glaze, suggesting a likely mixture of domestic and imported cobalt. Unlike the deep, intense blue of the Yuan and early Yongle periods, this softer and more nuanced coloring reflects the aesthetic characteristics of mid-Ming blue-and-white ware.
The body is decorated with lotus scroll motifs, supported on three legs, and topped with a lid featuring a seated lion finial—features typical of ritual or Buddhist incense burners. The overall decoration, shape, and balance are consistent with the stylistic traditions of the Jingdezhen kilns during the Zhengde to early Jiajing period.
Period: Mid-Late Ming Dynasty Medium: Blue and White Porcelain Type: Censer Condition : Excellent Size : 9cm(Mouth Diameter), 16cm(Height) Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s from Hongkong Reference : Qingdao Museum - Blue and White Censer with Lion Finial, Ming Dynasty (Type : Closely related)
