Lot 3647. An inscribed gold-splashed bronze tripod incense burner, Qing dynasty, 18th century; 18.5 cm, 7 1/4  in. Estimate 150,000 — 250,000 HKD (19,100 - 31,833 USD). Lot sold. 1,000,000 HKD (127,330 USD).Courtesy Sotheby's

sturdily cast with a bombé body rising from three tapering legs to a gently everted rim and surmounted by a pair of upright handles, the base centred with a recessed cartouche enclosing an inscription reading Chenxing banzhu mingxiang, liberally and densely decorated overall with gold splashes.

Provenance: Christie's London, 10th April 1984, lot 319.

Note: It is rare to find a gold-splashed incense burner with an inscription in seal script. Chenxing banzhu mingxiang can be translated as 'Waking up to discover there is still half an incense unburnt'. This is adapted from Su Dongpo’s sixteen enjoyable things in life, here referring to early in the morning.