A small incense stick holder as a model of rocks... Lot 25040

A small incense stick holder as a model of rocks and plants, Kangxi period, ca. 1700, China, In soft sancai colours. The rock and flowers standing in a small yellow glazed pot. Not marked. H 7.5 cm, Old chips and small damages (see photos). No restoration. Provenance : purchased from Antiquaire Delpace, Bruxelles, 6th December 1947 by Monsieur and Madame Robert de Strycker. The Belgium couple Professor Robert de Stryker and his wife discovered Chinese art during a visit to London in the 1930's. In 1938 they started to collect, porcelain, cloisonné, prints and lacquer, amassing a large and interesting collection with objects from the Neolithic period to the Qing dynasty. Fortunately, the provenance of most of the pieces in the collection have been recorded with details the date of purchase, the name of the gallery or shop they were purchased from as well as the price paid. The De Strykers had a great passion for what they purchased but also an academic approach to their subject. Professor De Stryker exchanged a large number of letters with Harry Garner and Fritz Low-Beer as well as establishing a close relationship with the Curator of the Guimet Museum in Paris. Some pieces in their collection were shown in the exhibition 'Oudekunst in Leuvensprivebezit', this ran from July 18th to October 18th 1964.