Incense burner - tiger's eye

Tiger's-eye censer - China, 20th century

Elegant tiger's-eye censer, crafted in high-quality natural stone.
The piece features a classic form inspired by traditional Chinese ritual tripods, with a globular body resting on three trefoil feet and two finely carved side handles shaped like dragons.

The domed lid is topped by a guardian lion (Shishi) sculpture, depicted in great detail as it rests a paw on the sacred sphere. The stone, with intense golden and brown veining, exhibits a remarkable cat’s eye effect that magnificently catches the light.
Technical characteristics:
• Material: Natural tiger's eye
• Condition: Excellent, with a polished surface and signs of use consistent with age
Small chip present on the lion's tail
It is a refined altar or collection piece, characteristic of Chinese hardstone production of the 20th century.
The tiger's eye, a stone traditionally associated with protection and prosperity, gives the work strong symbolic value as well as decorative appeal.