An unusual Longquan celadon-glazed 'double dragon head' incense burner and cover, 16th century. Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 (€21,000 - 28,000). Photo Bonhams.

The oblong incense burner surmounted by a domed cover carved with scale designs, surmounted by a top shaped as the heads of two confronting dragons clutching a flaming pearl, covered overall with a sea-green glaze, Japanese wood box. 9cm (3 1/2in) high(3). 

Notes: Longquan celadon-glazed incense burners and covers are rarer in the playful animal or figural shape compared to the more typical open vessel forms. See for example a Longquan celadon sampan and figure shaped incense burner and cover and a larger crane shaped incense burner and cover, both Yuan dynasty, from the Songde Tang collection, illustrated by A.C.M.Lai, The Multiplicity of Simplicity: Monochrome Wares from the Song to the Yuan Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2012, pls.80-81.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, 12 Nov 2015 10:00 GMT - LONDON, NEW BOND STREET