Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Longquan Celadon Tripod Censer to the 16th Century.
Dimensions: Impressive 11 inches in diameter (11.0 in / 28 cm class scale, perfectly aligning with historical documentation).
Form & Profile: Robustly potted compressed globular vessel featuring a stepped rim, a raised band of characteristic round bosses (studs), and a finely incised scrolling floral or diaper border around the midsection.
Handles: Twin crisply molded rope-twist loop handles securely affixed to the rim, glazed in a luminous sea-green tone that pools deep within the rope crevices.
Feet & Base: Raised on three dynamic lion-mask feet. The unglazed circular base ring and interior floor reveal the authentic, fiery reddish-brown biscuit body that burns to a rich orange-buff hue from traditional regional kiln firing.The base also bears the distinct green collection sticker reading "The G S. May Esquire Private Collection, London, 353".
Glaze: Thick, translucent, and evenly applied sea-green celadon glaze featuring an intricate, well-distributed network of fine crackles throughout.
Condition Report
Overall Structural Integrity: The censer presents in remarkable, stable antique condition, retaining its grand architectural presence and crisp molded definition.
Surface & Glaze: The luminous sea-green glaze is largely intact, showing the natural minor surface variations, characteristic small pinholes, and firing irregularities commensurate with genuine early high-temperature kiln production.
Rim and Handles: The structural rim and intricate rope-twist handles are clean and strong, with minor age-consistent softening to the high points of the glaze.
Feet and Base: The three lion-mask feet are solid and intact. The exposed earthenware biscuit on the base exhibits the dry, authentic texture and oxidation expected of a pre-modern Chinese ceramic piece handled and preserved across centuries.
Impeccable Provenance & Presentation
The West End of London Pedigree: This censer is accompanied by its original, historical retail invoice issued on 21st July 1964 by the premier London dealer H. R. Hancock & Sons (located at 37 Bury Street, St. James's, S.W.1) to Brigadier W.F.K. Thompson.
An unbroken, verifiable paper trail of this caliber is exceptionally difficult to secure for early Chinese ceramics.
The purchaser named on the 1964 receipt from H. R. Hancock & Sons is Brigadier William Francis Kynaston "Sheriff" Thompson, OBE (1909-1980).
Subsequent Collection: Directly succeeding the mid-century West End acquisition, the piece passed into the esteemed G S. May Esquire Private Collection, London
Fitted Stand: The piece rests upon its traditional period fitted wood stand, which is explicitly documented on the original 1964 Hancock invoice.
Provenance Note: H.R. Hancock & Sons
Established as a preeminent authority in early Chinese art, H.R. Hancock began his career in the antiques trade in 1887 before founding his esteemed gallery operations. Located at 37 Bury Street, St. James’s, London from 1928 through 1970 (trading later as H.R. Hancock & Sons), the firm served as a premier West End destination for collectors and connoisseurs of fine antique Chinese porcelain and works of art.
Founder Harry R. Hancock was widely recognized as a leading specialist dealer in Chinese ceramics and notably served as the Treasurer of the British Antique Dealers' Association (BADA) during the 1930s. Pieces carrying documentation from their St. James's premises represent an exceptional pedigree of historical tier-one handling in the British antique trade.
Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Longquan Celadon Tripod Censer to the 16th Century.
Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sandbanks Antiques Profile Page
Monumental 15/16th Century Ming Dynasty Longquan Celadon Tripod Censer
