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China

Large Censer

Qing dynasty (1644–1911), dated 1673
Porcelain painted in underglaze blue and overglaze enamels (wucai)
32.1 × 32.1 cm (12.6 × 12.6 in)

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● On view now — Gallery 134

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · verified July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

This incense burner has a rare inscription indicating that it was commissioned in 1673 by members of the Sun family, as an offering for the family shrine. It expresses the patron’s wishes for the household’s success under the ancestors’ blessing. On the vessel’s surface, the god of longevity flies on a crane toward the Eight Immortals, legendary figures in Daoism symbolizing both longevity and prosperity.

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