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sellingantiques.co.uk
ID #SA1169798
FOR SALE
£400
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Chinese Laughing Boy, Famille Rose Earthenware Incense Holder, C.1880
Gillers Antiques Ltd
for sale €468     $508
£400
Gillers Antiques Ltd

Gillers Antiques Ltd

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2023
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Chinese Laughing Boy, Famille Rose Earthenware Incense Holder, C.1880

19th century
Description

A late Qing export earthenware figure of a Laughing Boy, finely modeled and decorated with famille rose enamels. The figure is conceived as an incense holder with five apertures: one at the crown, one in each sleeve, and two at the back. When incense is lit, smoke emerges through these vents and the open mouth. Comparable models were also produced as whistles. The Laughing Boy image derives from Chinese folklore and Chan Buddhism, where it represents Budai, the monk revered as an incarnation of the future Buddha. Such figures were placed in homes as talismans of happiness and prosperity.

Dimensions: H 14.5 cm; W 7.5 cm; D 3.8 cm; Weight 208 g

Condition: Excellent antique condition; enamels and colors well preserved; vents original. Please note: the display stand is not included in the sale.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.

Declaration

Gillers Antiques Ltd has dated this Chinese Porcelain Incense Holder to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1169798
Description
A late Qing export earthenware figure of a Laughing Boy, finely modeled and decorated with famille rose enamels.
“
The figure is conceived as an incense holder with five apertures: one at the crown, one in each sleeve, and two at the back.
Gillers Antiques Ltd

When incense is lit, smoke emerges through these vents and the open mouth. Comparable models were also produced as whistles. The Laughing Boy image derives from Chinese folklore and Chan Buddhism, where it represents Budai, the monk revered as an incarnation of the future Buddha. Such figures were placed in homes as talismans of happiness and prosperity.

fig 1. An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base.
fig 1. Chinese Laughing Boy, Famille Rose Earthenware Incense Holder, C.1880

Dimensions: H 14.5 cm; W 7.5 cm; D 3.8 cm; Weight 208 g

Condition: Excellent antique condition; enamels and colors well preserved; vents original. Please note: the display stand is not included in the sale.

fig 2. An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base.
fig 2. Chinese Laughing Boy, Famille Rose Earthenware Incense Holder, C.1880

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.

Date of Manufacture

Gillers Antiques Ltd has dated this Chinese Porcelain Incense Holder to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1169798
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2023
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Gillers Antiques Ltd Profile Page

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An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base.
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Archive I An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base.

Chinese Laughing Boy, Famille Rose Earthenware Incense Holder, C.1880

Archive II An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base. View II
Archive III An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base. View III
Archive IV An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base. View IV
Archive V An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base. View V
Archive VI An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base. View VI
Archive VII An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base. View VII
Archive VIII An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base. View VIII
Archive IX An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base. View IX
Archive X An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base. View X
Enlarged Archival View
Gillers Antiques Ltd

Gillers Antiques Ltd
Telephone 07738 009924
Location
Buckland House
Buntingford
Hertfordshire
SG9 0PY
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/gillersantiques
Verified Since Mar 2023
Items For Sale 401
Items Sold 564
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Verified Since Mar 2023
View Dealer Info
Location: Buckland House, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 0PY, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/gillersantiques
Verified
Mar 2023
For Sale
401
Sold
564
An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base.
Chinese Laughing Boy, Famille Rose Earthenware Incense Holder, c.1880
Ref: SA1169798
An antique Chinese ceramic incense holder depicting a smiling boy in a green floral jacket seated on a red base.
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FAQs

Originating during the Qing Dynasty, Famille Rose ceramics are decorated with opaque enamel colours dominated by pink, rose, and green hues. These figural pieces often served functional and decorative purposes, holding joss sticks or incense on traditional altars and scholar desks.

These figures were typically molded from porcelain or earthenware, hand-painted with overglaze enamel pigments, and fired multiple times. Openings in the hands or body served as sockets to hold burning incense sticks securely.

Authentic late 19th-century pieces generally show age-appropriate wear on unglazed bases, variations from manual enamel application, and firing imperfections within the glaze. Glaze tones display visual depth rather than modern uniform opacity.

Small ceramic figures function as decorative accents when placed on a sideboard, mantelpiece, or bookshelf alongside structured objects. Their enamel colours introduce targeted visual contrast to neutral contemporary spaces.

Dust the ceramic figure regularly using a soft, dry brush or microfibre cloth to prevent scratching the overglaze enamel. Avoid liquid immersion or harsh chemicals, as moisture can enter unglazed areas or destabilise older repairs.
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