A RARE BRONZE BUDDHIST RITUAL ‘LOTUS’ EKORO (LONG-HANDLED CENSER), 14TH-15TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A RARE BRONZE BUDDHIST RITUAL ‘LOTUS’ EKORO (LONG-HANDLED CENSER), 14TH-15TH CENTURY Japan, 14th-15th century, late Kamakura (1185-1333) to Muromachi period (1336-1573) Finely cast, composed of a chalice-shaped brazier with deep, gently rounded sides, raised on a circular, flat foot, fitted with a hinged openwork cover, designed to allow the passage of incense smoke, surmounted by a rounded finial, and a long handle that curves downward at the terminal end to ensure stability when placed on a flat surface. The body of the vessel finely incised with lotus petals, while the cover is decorated in the form of a Dharma wheel. The handle delicately ornamented with foliage on a finely ring-punched ground. LENGTH 30.5 cm In Japanese Buddhist ritual practice, the officiating priest carries a long-handled censer, an emblem of his authority, as he leads processions of monks into and out of the image hall of a temple. During the ceremony, the ekoro is repeatedly lifted and placed before the image of the deity as an offering of incense. The act of fumigation is believed to purify the space and to dispel evil spirits. Censers of this type were also used in the ritual practice of the indigenous Shinto tradition of Japan. Following the introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 7th century, Shinto incorporated many elements of Buddhist ritual practice and visual representation. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related ekoro, dated 14th-15th century, 34 cm long, at Christie’s, Japanese Art & design, 14 May 2008, London, lot 25 (sold for GBP 2,250 or approx. EUR 4,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

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