A RARE SILVER SPHERICAL CENSER, TANG DYNASTY (AD 618-907)

A RARE SILVER SPHERICAL CENSER
TANG DYNASTY (AD 618-907)
The globular censer is comprised of two hinged, openwork half-spheres, the upper half decorated with a design of two pairs of parrots facing each other as they pick at grapes in the midst of scrolling, leafy vines, the lower half with scrolling, leafy vines bearing flowers and fruit. The interior is fitted with a gimbaled system of two silver rings holding a gilt-bronze hemispherical bowl that remains upright irrespective of the movement of the outer sphere, and the censer is suspended on a hooked chain.
2 in. (5 cm.) diam.; weight 46 g