A gilt-bronze censer and cover, Ming dynasty, 17th century
A gilt-bronze censer and cover, Ming dynasty, 17th century
the solidly cast rectangular censer with gently rounded sides supported on four clawed legs issuing from ferocious horned dragon heads, surmounted by a short straight neck and set to the sides with a pair of qilong dragon handles, cast in high relief on two sides with a stylised shou character wreathed by leafy lotus scrolls with a pair of boys each clutching the stem, the other two sides with further lotus scrolls, the cover pierced and similarly decorated with lotus scrolls, surmounted by a recumbent snarling lion, caparisonned with a saddle adorned with garlands studded with hard stones, the underside of the censer cast with an apocryphal six-character Xuande mark, the metal patinated to a deep brown tone embellished with gilt. 26 cm., 10 1/4 in. Estimate 500,000—700,000 HKD Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. 08 Apr 09. Hong Kong www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's