After a visit to the Treasury at Winchester College, Ben and I decided to make videos and write blog posts on the three depictions of ducks in the Duberly Collection of Chinese Art. You can also read about the ducks in this booklet: issuu.com/godtres/docs/ducks. This is Ben's guest blog about a duck incense burner.
Winchester College possesses the incense burner below. Watch this short video to learn about the object. Beneath the video I give a more complete description of the object, an overview of duck incense burners in general, and a summary of the symbolism of ducks in China.
The duck incense burner is from either the 16th or 17th century, and can be viewed in the Treasury at Winchester College. It was given to the College as part of the Duberly Collection in 1978, and features in the catalogue of the same collection. It was purchased by Major Montagu and Lady Eileen Duberly for £800 in 1966, the equivalent of £15,000 today. The duck is extremely colourful, perhaps why it was so expensive.
Formed in two parts, the duck of the incense burner is standing with its head raised and turned to the left. The lid lifts off to allow the incense to be added. Much of the object is in gilt bronze; the rest has cloisonné enamel. The duck is coloured with green, red, purple, blue, two yellows and white. There is a pierced cash-shaped vent in the tail, which allows the smoke, made by burning the incense, to leave through the beak of the duck. The burner is 14 centimetres long and 16.5 centimetres tall.
The earliest duck incense burners originate from the Eastern Zhou dynasty. Most notably, one was recovered from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng (d. 433 BC), alongside weaponry and musical instruments. Incense burners were first produced in the form of waterfowl during the Han dynasty.
Auspicious portents of lovely smoke rise forth from the golden duck censers.
Jin Youzi
According to the above poem, there were duck incense burners in use during court banquets in the early fifteenth century. Court ladies also used the incense burners at night, whilst trying clothes on.
The incense continues burning in the golden duck censer 'til midnight, as the court ladies keep trying on their new garments of silk and muslin.
Zhu Youdun, 1406
Generally in China, the duck is a symbol of felicity, often paired with the lotus. Mandarin ducks are said to become feeble, even die, when separated from their spouse. This resonates with the idea of matrimonial fidelity. In addition to this, ducks survive the dangers of the river, so are often viewed as the talisman of safety.
Winchester College – Collections: winchestercollections.co.uk/collection/incense-burner
Winchester College Treasury: treasury.winchestercollege.org
'The Duberly Collection of Chinese Art at Winchester College': treasury.winchestercollege.org/new-design/pages/forms/duberly-collection-of-chinese-art
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