A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE 'MYTHICAL BEASTS' INCENSE BURNER

A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE 'MYTHICAL BEASTS' INCENSE BURNER
17TH CENTURY

The body with four panels cast in relief depicting mythical beasts, including dragons amongst crashing waves, flanked by two beast-mask handles and raised on four mythical beast-head feet, the cover cast in openwork with dragons and phoenix amongst clouds contesting two flaming pearls, surmounted by a lotus-petal finial, with a six-character Xuande mark to the base, with a paper label for the Finer Collection 'CB 57', 3.8kg, 22.5cm. (2)

The depiction of mythical beasts amongst waves seen on the incense burner offered here is typical of the Kangxi period, due to a revival of interest in ancient texts, notably the Shanhai jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas). For related examples, see Chinese Incense Burners, Collection of Steven Hung & Lindy Chern, no. 151 and Michael Goedhuis, Chinese and Japanese Bronzes A.D.1100-1900, no. 76. Compare also with a smaller but similar incense burner in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession no. 2006.448a,b dated to the 16th-17th century.

十七世紀 銅趕珠龍紋方爐
《大明宣德年製》

From the Finer Collection of later bronzes and hand warmers.