Offering Instruments

CHINA; Qing dynasty

Among these offering instruments, the body of the incense burner is octagonal and is covered in white jade decorated with lotuses and the eight auspicious symbols. The lid is in the form of a truncated pyramid with openwork clouds, and the knob consists of a stylized lion playing with a ball. A key pattern decorates the rim, while the shoulders and handles have lotus petals and blue enamel. The tops of the legs are in the shape of mythical creature heads.
The bases of the two candleholders are octagonal and are embedded with white jade edged and a lotus petal pattern in blue enamel. The drip catcher at the bottom is surmounted by a shaft followed by a smaller drip catcher at the top. Each candle is decorated with a cloud pattern and a blessing in Chinese characters in blue enamel. At the top, there are flame shapes embedded with gemstones.
The vases are embedded with white jade and engraved with lotus and key patterns. The base, body, and rim are decorated with blue enamel lotus petals, and glossy mushrooms embedded with tourmaline and turquoise emerge from each vase.