Antique Pair Glazed Stoneware Candle Holders, Shiwan, China(16901CH-CEM ) $785/pr

Description

This pair of apple green gazed stoneware candlestick holders were part of a 5-piece home altar set (16901BLKE) as they all have unifying decorative and structural designs. Made in the Shiwan kilns, Shiwan is a small town near Foshan City in Guangdong Province where they have been making renowned folk art ceramics with fine modeling, vivid expression and colorful glazes since the 17^th century. Like the vases (16901V-CEM) , these intricate candle-holders have well-proportioned silhouettes composed of three distinct sections. The bottom sits on 4-legged square pedestal base that gently slopes upward and has raised pointed-shield designs inset with angled swirls and support rounded open square top vase-like bowls with a adorned with raised vegetal sprays. The next section rising from the square bowls is a tall thin neck enclosing a bulbous shaped orb with floral designs on its sides. This morphs into the third section above with  similar but smaller square  bowls with different floral spray designs. A short thin candle attachment rises from the their center. All areas are rounded with soft corners making them elegant and graceful, and all designs are in relief against a smooth background. This intriguing design scheme is repeated on each of the four sides using patterns that mirror and complement those on the  vases and censer that unify the 5 piece set. Candles illuminate, cleanse, warm and soothe and are always used in Chinese prayers; incense is also lit as part of the offering ritual.