A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE RECTANGULAR 'DRAGON' INCENSE BURNER 17TH CENTURY The reticulated...

A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE RECTANGULAR 'DRAGON' INCENSE BURNER 17TH CENTURY The reticulated cover cast in relief with two gilt dragons emerging from scrolling clouds, contesting the sacred pearl of wisdom to the finial, the body with two buffalo head handles and mythical beasts amidst breaking waves, raised on a slightly flared foot, with a six character Xuande mark to the base, 22cm, 3.5kg. (2) Provenance: from the collection of Professor Peter H Plesch and Mrs Traudi Plesch OBE and thence by descent, collection no Bh22l, purchased from Gérard Lévy, Paris, in March 1971 for 2,700F. Cf. M Maucuer, Musée Cernuschi, Bronzes de la Chine Impériale des Song aux Qing, p.131, no.81 for a similar example.