China 15th Century Celadon Glaze Tripod Censer

A rare Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) Longquan celadon glaze tripod censer. Very heavily potted and with a thick glaze of olive green colour except for a central internal area and middle underside left 'in the biscuit'. The censer displays some historic damage commensurate with age and has some early reparations as evidenced by the 'staple repairs' and is quite substantial size-wise at 25cm diameter and 13cm high. The slightly outset lip is above a decorative band of stiff leaves and the main body is seen to be decorated with a further continuous band of lotus flowers and leaves moulded in low relief and the censer is raised upon three feet headed with stylised masks. It is noted that the celadon family is wide and includes pieces made in central Asia (China, Japan and Korea) and also South East Asia including Vietnam and Thailand and under the Chinese Song Dynasty rulers, the Longquan kilns were inaugurated in China and this particular event gave rise to large scale production meant for trade routes throughout the East. Received and highly appreciated both in China and in the Middle East because of their extraordinary solidity and beauty, Longquan celadon wares were successfully widely exported.