Cloisonné Enamel Burner with Lotus Decoration and Elephant-trunk Handles

The incense burner has a round and bulging brass body, two handles shaped like elephant trunks and a foot ring. Around the neck are 12 yellow, white, red and purple chrysanthemum flowers on light blue enamel ground. The body is decorated with six red, white and yellow entwining sprays of lotus flowers on sapphire blue ground. Below them is a band of lotus petals. The enamel coating is shining and smooth. In some places, it is as transparent as glass. The colours of the enamel are harmoniously matched so the burner looks elegant and classical in style. The burner is a distinguished inlaid enamel work of the Yuan period. The inner brass body and the elephant-trunk handles, however, were fitted on at a later date.