A RARE CHINESE GOLD-SPLASHED BRONZE 'PHOENIX' INCENSE BURNER

MING DYNASTY

The pear-shaped body with handles cast as phoenix heads with wings spreading over the body of the vessel, all raised on a circular foot, with a six character Xuande mark to the base, 16cm, 1.4kg.

Provenance: an English private collection formed in Bath in the 1920s.

Cf. M Maucuer, Bronzes de la Chine impériale des Song aux Qing, Musée Crenuschi, p.127, no.74 for a closely related vessel dated to the 16th century.