Japanese
Incense Burner with Praying Mantis, early 19th century
Bronze with wood base, 19.7 x 24.1 x 6.7 cm (7 3/4 x 9 1/2 x 2 5/8 in.)
A black, bronze sculpture of a blooming Japanese cherry tree branch that forms an upright rectangle with round corners and curvy sides. The longer sides are parallel to the ground. In the center of the rectangle is a bowl attached to a short branch growing from the right side of the larger vine. A praying mantis stands on the lid of the bowl with its long antennae flowing down behind its body. Below and slightly to the left of the bowl is a large, completely open blossom facing upward. The rectangle's bottom corners are tied to a narrow, flat base by thin, braided rope. The bottom corners rest on a u-shaped curved rod. The sculpture sits on a flat, wooden pentagon base.
Macknight Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.