A CHINESE SILVER WIRE-INLAID AND PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY 'MYTHICAL BEASTS' INCENSE BURNER, GUI

A CHINESE SILVER WIRE-INLAID AND PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY 'MYTHICAL BEASTS' INCENSE BURNER, GUI
HU WENMING MARK, 16TH/17TH CENTURY

The compressed globular body raised on a slightly splayed foot, flanked by two mythical beast handles, the exterior with a band depicting a dragon and other mythical beasts amongst flames, with a band of silver wire-inlaid key fret to the rim, the bottom two registers the base incised with a seal mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection 'CB 3', 576g, 18cm.

Cf. Christie's Hong Kong, 27th November 2017, lot 8117, for a related Hu Wenming incense burner with silver-wire inlay and depicting mythical beasts. See also Bonhams London, 15th May 2014, lot 289 for another Hu Wenming incense burner with silver wire-inlay but depicting a different subject.

十六/十七世紀 銅局部鎏金海獸紋簋式爐
《雲間胡文明製》

From the Finer Collection of later bronzes and hand warmers.