International studio (48.1913)

6

THE INTERNATIONAL STUDIO

November, 1912


LONDON KYOTO
OSAKA BOSTON
Yamanaka & Co.
254 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK
Works of Art from the
Far East
Japanese House Decoration
and Garden Design
CLASSIFIED EXHIBITIONS
-of-
INTERESTING OBJECTS
Are Held in Our New Galleries

P. W. FRENCH & CO.
6 EAST 56th STREET, NEW YORK
Formerly 142 Madison Avenue
Rare Antique Tapestries from
Important Collections, Antique
Furniture, Embroideries, Tex-
tiles, Laces and Other Objects
of Art. :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

RUDOLF SECKEL
Announces a special exhibition of Fine
Engravings and Etchings by
Dtirer and Rembrandt
31 EAST 12TH STREET ? .• .’ NEW' YORK


The Ehrich Galleries
“(DIb ^Masters”
OF ALL THE SCHOOLS
Special attention given to Expertising, Restoring and Framing
FIFTH AVENUE & 40th STREET, NEW YORK

TEMPLE CENSER OF THE MING DYNASTY


bronze of the Ming dynasty, 1368-1640
a.d., with S-shaped handles on each side,
has a cover representing a flattened pyra-
mid crowned with a fierce mythological
dog, the heavenly dog of Buddha, with a
bushy tail and an almost human expres-
sion. The characters for longevity and
good luck are seen on the main side of the
vessel. The bronze duck, standing on a
footstool of the same material, is of the
Ming dynasty. It is hollow and its wings
can be removed when incense sticks are
placed inside, the pleasant and sacred
fumes being emitted from the beak.
The worship of ancestors played an im-
portant part in the development and deter-
mining of the shape of some of the bronze
types. A striking and noteworthy exam-
ple of a libation cup, from which wine was
poured in worship of the spirits of the dead,
is one having the shape of an inverted hel-
met with tripod legs. This is among the
oldest pieces in the collection, and was cast
during the Shang dynasty, B.c., 1765-
1145. The bronze rattle or hand bell, hav-
ing a loose ball inside, which dates from the

VESSEL FOR CARRYING WINE. CHOU
DYNASTY, 1127-247 B.C.