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Subject:Help with bronze censer seal translation & date
Posted By: mitko Tue, Feb 02, 2016 IP: 213.114.162.241
Hello Everybody!
I need a little help with translating the seal mark on this bronze incense burner and if possible dating it. I am posting pictures of the body of the bronze and close up of the mark.
Thanks in advance!





Subject:Re: Help with bronze censer seal translation & date
Posted By: Bill H Wed, Feb 03, 2016
The seal script appears to be 論古堂 in standard characters, read in mandarin as "Lun Gu Tang" and translatable literally as "Hall for Discussion of Antiquity". However, 論 (lun) also can be an abbreviation for the Confucian Analects, and 堂 (tang) can take on a contextual meaning of "temple" or "Shrine". In that case, the seal might read as "Ancient Temple of the Analects".

I found no few references to "Lun Gu Tang" (論古堂) in websites of apparent Chinese antique dealers, so there are lots of possible slants on the translation. I would defer to others on assistance with dating, as I've never actually handled a censer with this mark.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Help with bronze censer seal translation & date
Posted By: rat Wed, Feb 03, 2016
I'm not knowledgeable about bronze but it looks pretty nice. the mark is Lun gu tang 論古堂, "hall for discussion the ancient"

Subject:Re: Help with bronze censer seal translation & date
Posted By: mikeoz Wed, Feb 03, 2016
The mark on this incense burner reads Lun Gu Tang 論古堂。

I was unable to find out anything concrete about this studio. Others may have more success.

Subject:Re: Help with bronze censer seal translation & date
Posted By: Mitko Thu, Feb 04, 2016
Thank you Bill H. Rat, Mikeoz, for the fast responses and the detailed information - I really appreciate your efforts! It is a good looking incense burner indeed! I am not going to hide that I am little confused with the dual meaning of the seal- whether it is "Hall for Discussion of Antiquity" or it is "Ancient Temple of the Analects"- which makes more sense? Few more questions come to my mind: Was this incense burner commissioned by or dedicated to such hall or temple? Was there ever such institutions as "Hall for Discussion of Antiquity" and "Ancient Temple of the Analects"? I was reading about Confucian temples in Wikipedia :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Confucius
Is it possible for such temple to be called Temple of the Analects? Were such vessels part of the interior? All opinions and comments are welcome!
All the best!
Mitko



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Subject:Re: Help with bronze censer seal translation & date
Posted By: pipane Thu, Feb 18, 2016
Modern.

Regards,
P.

Subject:Re: Help with bronze censer seal translation & date
Posted By: mitko Sat, Feb 20, 2016
Hello Pipane and thanks for your opinion! Would you please be more specific- have you seen this marking before?
Best regards!


Subject:Re: Help with bronze censer seal translation & date
Posted By: mitko Tue, Apr 26, 2016
Please do not comment unless you can give details!
Regards!

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