Lot 670
HAMMERED IRON CENSER WITH GILDED INTERIOR AND INLAID SILVER DESIGN
D: 6.7 cm
H: 2 cm
Iron has low ductility and malleability, making it a difficult to work material. Repeated hammering is required to beat every part into the right shape, angle, and thickness, and make the individual elements fit into each other. The seamless look of the finished product, as if made from one piece, is in truth the result of a time-consuming, painstaking process. This kind of iron craft is therefore considered to be one of the most challenging forms of metalwork. It is a type of skill that originated in Japan during the Edo period, and today this tradition is gradually disappearing. Hammered iron objects with decorative patterns of inlaid silver are even harder to make, taxing the craftsman’s patience and skill to the utmost. This hammered iron censer features an inlaid silver design of high filigree and exquisite execution. The item’s aesthetic appeal is further enhanced by its gilded interior, emphasizing the blend of classical elegance and simple beauty that best describes its overall appearance. Any avid incense aficionado will be interested in acquiring this piece with its smooth, free-flowing design and attractive solidity.
Estimate
TWD 92,000-134,000
HKD 22,000-32,000
USD 2,800-4,100
Sold Price
Private collection, Japan
Literati: Quiet Affection
Ravenel Spring Auction 2016 Hong Kong
Sunday, May 29, 2016, 2:00pm