2. Boxwood (huangyangmu) Lobed Incense Tool Vase
Qing dynasty, 18th century
Height: 11.3cm
This beautifully carved vase of huangyangmu (boxwood) features a three-petalled flowerhead on the base. Such small vases, either in wood, or other materials such as gilt bronze or jade, are generally referred to as incense tool vases. They would have held a set of implements perhaps including a pair of chopsticks or tongs for handling incense sticks and a small scoop for moving or shaping ash.
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