Chengde Eight Outlying Temples: Offering Instruments

CHINA, Hebei, Chengde; Qing dynasty

These silver offering instruments consist of an incense burner, two vases, and two candlesticks. Each instrument features a silver core decorated with blue enamel.
The vases have a broad base and curve in towards an oblate spheroid in the middle, from which an outward curve forms the wide mouth. Images of mythical creatures, key patterns, inverted lotuses, and plantain leaf patterns decorate each vase. The candlesticks have broad bell-shaped bases, above which is a narrow waist surmounted by a deep pan. A column followed by a miniature round vase with a small pan and spike stands on top. They are decorated with mythical creatures, inverted lotuses, and plantain leaf patterns. The three-legged incense burner has a squat bowl with loops on either side. The exterior also features mythical creatures and plantain leaf patterns. An inscription on the rim dates these offering instruments to the rule of Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795) of the Qing dynasty.