A CHINESE CLOISONNE ENAMEL TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER

MING DYNASTY

The globular body and flared rim decorated with formal bands of lotus flowerheads on a dark blue ground, with scrolling foliage, 1.9kg, 23cm.

Provenance: formerly the collection of Sir Beilby Alston, GBE KCMG CB PC (1868-1929). He brought the incense burner back from China on his return to London in the 1920s. He was a British diplomatic envoy to various countries. He started his career as a clerk in the Librarian's Department of the Foreign Office in 1890. He was secretary to the British representatives at conferences in Brussels in 1898, 1901 and 1902. Returning to London, Alston was attached to Prince Zai Xun (1885-1949) of China on his mission to England in 1909. In December 1911 he moved to Beijing where he was the Counsellor of the British Legation (1911-17), then minister Plenipotentiary in Tokyo (1919-20) and China (1920-22).