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Bidding has ended on this item. Item:Chinese Incense Burner-Dragons & Elephants Cast 1890s  |
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The Eight Immortals are Taoist folk heroes drawn from a cross-section of society. They represent the eight different conditions of life: youth, old age, poverty, wealth, nobility, the general population, the masculine and the feminine. Their personalities and exploits are revealed in myths and legends and they have achieved popularity both as a group and for individual attributes. Alters and temples are often dedicated to them, although they are not really considered religious deities. Their presence brings peace and happiness into a home and as such are considered beneficial elements. Each immortal is shown dressed in iconic costume and holding objects that reflect their particular magic. Pictured is a fantastic bronze censer made using the lost wax process, an ancient method by which a bronze or brass cast was made from an artist’s sculpture. The Ming Dynasty produced the most amazing carved and cast metal sculptures of every size, shape and purpose and these were reproduced by decree of the emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). This one is late Qing, made between 1890 and 1910. The composition of the metal is not pure, because by this time If you are down on your luck, this is the right incense burner to have. The handles are a combination of elements, starting with handles, the elephant’s face. The Chinese consider the elephant a symbol of happiness, longevity and good luck. The upturned trunks have morphed into two ruyi (pronounced ju-eye) or wish-granting scepters. The front of the ruyi is carved with the face of a dragon looking straight out at you. His legs are striding across the bottom, but he has turned his head, so you can see the two horns, two eyes and fire streaming from either side of the mouth. There are 9 types of dragons, and all are potent symbols for anything good, from luck to long life. A magnifier will open a whole new world when used to examine the details on this censer. The pot itself is supported by three dragon heads from which protrude dragon feet, this one a five-toed beast. The main carving presents an immortal riding a dragon, flanked on either side by two of the other eight immortals. Clouds are shown below the dragon, as heaven is his domain (they look like odd circular patterns) as well as that of the immortals. Clouds are another auspicious Chinese symbol for luck. The cover is ringed by two beautifully wrought dragons circling the pearl of potentiality, which itself is in the center of a ring of fire. There are Chinese characters around the rim that invoke good luck and prosperity. This is one of the few remaining censers of this sort in my collection that at one time contained over 350 pieces. It is 7½” tall with the cover on and about 5” across from handle to handle and weight it weighs 1 pound (½ kilo). PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU BID: Your bid is a contract. Please be sure you want the item.
This is a true auction; I do not take returns. Please be sure you want this item before you bid. I include photos and written details and I am happy to send more pictures or answer any questions prior to the end of the auction. I cannot be responsible for buyer's remorse; I'm sure you understand. Payment must be received within 3 days after the auction has ended. PayPal is the only form of payment. If your sale is as promised, please indicate your pleasure by checking the “five-star” ratings. I ship within 2 days of the sale by priority mail from the THIS IS NEW, STARTING IN SEPTEMBER: A QUOTE FROM EBAY: “Shipping insurance will no longer be included in the purchase as either an option or requirement for buyers. In some categories like Antiques, Collectibles and Jewelry, shipping insurance for sellers is essential. When appropriate, you can include the cost of insurance in your item or shipping price.” I will only add insurance for fragile items or on purchases over $100.00. Please keep in mind that the prices for shipping are set by the carrier, not by me. I would send things for free if I could J I am happy to combine shipping on multiple items purchased within a 7-day cycle. If you have items that will not complete in that time frame, please pay the current invoice. I can hold your items and combine them with auctions ending 8 days or later, and I will amend the shipping charges. International Buyers: Please email me for a quote. You can find your country’s shipping costs at the PLEASE NOTE: I have been an eBayer for over 6 years. I have turned around over 2000 items as both buyer and seller with 100% positive feedback. I truly understand most situations, for I have had my own share. With that in mind, won’t you please email any questions or concerns? Chances are that good communication is all that is needed to rectify a problem. ABOUT ME: I come from a long line of globetrotting ancestors, and I have carried on the tradition, traveling around the world twice. My ancestors and relatives have lived for extended periods in exotic areas, including the Far East, Middle East, Africa and Thanks for looking, and come back often. I try to list 2-5 items a day. |
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Shipping and handling Item location: Historic Roswell, Georgia, United States Shipping to: N. and S. America, Europe, Asia, Australia
*The estimated delivery time is based on the seller's handling time, the shipping service selected, and when the seller receives cleared payment. Sellers are not responsible for shipping service transit times. Transit times may vary, particularly during peak periods.
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