An old temple lantern-Japanese? Chinese?

M ELEY · 17th March 2021, 12:04 AM

Thanks for commenting, Francantolin. Yes, I really like this piece. It was 'rewired' back in the thirties with a lightbulb and listed as 'an Old Salem lamp'. Old Salem here in NC is a colonial town dating back to the 1750's. It was a crap job and I tore out the wire that was clearly added later. I've seen so many antiques from the 'Deco' period that were permanently destroyed! I've seen Bavarian swords made into candle holders/hilts, Indian Kula Khed helmets made into lamps. I myself used to own two Japanese temple lanterns (big ones embellished with dragons, snails, turtles, etc, that had the dragon bronze head removed and a lamp fixture placed, again some time in the 30's. Such a tragedy! Anyway, this piece is intact and the iron chain links I'm assuming are more modern.

M ELEY · 29th March 2021, 06:42 PM

OK! Well, the verdict finally came back from the experts at the Smithsonian. It is a Chinese censur (as Francantolin had surmised), an incense burner probably for a temple or private home. The patterning threw her. She was guessing late Ching Dynasty, but said she thought it was darkened from incense, which I question. She did say some of the designs were also used during the Ming period, so no exact date. Still, an interesting item!

17th March 2021, 12:04 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,206	Thanks for commenting, Francantolin. Yes, I really like this piece. It was 'rewired' back in the thirties with a lightbulb and listed as 'an Old Salem lamp'. Old Salem here in NC is a colonial town dating back to the 1750's. It was a crap job and I tore out the wire that was clearly added later. I've seen so many antiques from the 'Deco' period that were permanently destroyed! I've seen Bavarian swords made into candle holders/hilts, Indian Kula Khed helmets made into lamps. I myself used to own two Japanese temple lanterns (big ones embellished with dragons, snails, turtles, etc, that had the dragon bronze head removed and a lamp fixture placed, again some time in the 30's. Such a tragedy! Anyway, this piece is intact and the iron chain links I'm assuming are more modern.

29th March 2021, 06:42 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,206	OK! Well, the verdict finally came back from the experts at the Smithsonian. It is a Chinese censur (as Francantolin had surmised), an incense burner probably for a temple or private home. The patterning threw her. She was guessing late Ching Dynasty, but said she thought it was darkened from incense, which I question. She did say some of the designs were also used during the Ming period, so no exact date. Still, an interesting item!