A RARE CHINESE IMPERIAL BRONZE INCENSE BURNER AND COVER

17TH/18TH CENTURY

The deep U-shaped body cast with lappets and raised on a tall foot, the neck with two phoenix side lifts joined by a ribbed band, the reticulated cover cast with two scaly dragons hidden by cloud scrolls, the knop with a six character Xuande mark, the base cast with a dragon roundel, 14cm. (2)

Cf. Le Musée chinois de l'impératice Eugénie, Fontainebleau, for another incense burner of this form with similar decoration but with a phoenix rather than a dragon. See also Sotheby's New York, 21st March 2015, lot 772 and Sotheby's Hong Kong, 3rd December 2015, lot 18 for other examples.