Japan: Courts and Culture: The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace

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ARITA, HIZEN PROVINCE [JAPAN]

Pair of pastille burners in the form of tortoises

burners: 1680-1700, mounts: 1700-50

Porcelain decorated with brown and blue glazes, mounted in gilt bronze | 25.0 x 20.5 x 18.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 4961

A symbol of longevity, the mythical tortoise (minogame) is said to have lived for 10,000 years. Models of this kind were imported to Europe by the Dutch East India Company as early as 1665.
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