A HUANGHUALI INCENSE STAND, XIANGJI 17th/18th century or laterA HUANGHUALI INCENSE STAND, XIANGJI17th/18th century or laterThe stand with a square panelled top fitted with 'ice-plate' edge above a narrow waist above cabriole legs terminating in square feet with trefoil designs carved in high relief, decorated with carved and inlaid mother of pearl designs, the top edges with sequences of wispy clouds, the waist with flowering lotus issuing acanthus leaves, the apron with pairs of confronted chilong enclosing lotus blossoms within ruyi borders, the legs with further chilong interspersed with ruyi clouds, the wood of an attractive blondish hue. 89cm (35in) high x 51cm (19 3/4in) length x 51cm (19 3/4in) deep. 十七/十八世紀或以後 黃花梨有束腰嵌螺鈿龍紋香几The present lot appears to be rare in its combination of elegant freestanding cabriole legs and the use of both carved and elaborate mother-of-pearl-inlaid decoration.Known as xiangji, incense stands count amongst the rarest types of furniture originating during the Ming dynasty. They were made square, rectangular, octagonal, lobed or even circular. Their function was for displaying a rock sculpture, a fragrant bonsai (miniature plant), a flower vase or an incense burner, as recorded by Gao Lian in 'Eight Discourses on the Art of Living' Zunsheng Ba Jian, compiled in 1591. Incense and other aromatics have been burned in Chinese culture since the Han dynasty and were used for both, secular and religious purposes. Incense burners were not only used to burn incense as they could hold a variety of aromatic substances that slowly released their scent. Censers and their stands would be placed in Imperial offices, private residences but could also be placed in places of worship or used outdoors, as shown in woodblock illustrations of the Ming dynasty. Incense stands were thus a standard piece within Chinese furniture for any individual who could afford luxury goods; see Wang Shixiang, Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, Hong Kong, 1990, vol.1, pp.52-54, for further discussion on the use and shape of incense stands.Compare with a related huanghuali incense stand, 17th century, also displaying freestanding cabriole legs, late Ming/early Qing dynasty, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3 December 2021, lot 3031.public_sentiment_keywords: grant+dynastyis_parse: 20230413image: yuzhan_bonhams_item/51930835.jpgsold_price_type: £