A GOLD-SPLASHED BRONZE DRAGON-HANDLED INCENSE BURNER 16TH – 17TH CENTURY

with an ovoid body rising from three cabriole legs to a raised shoulder and constricted straight rim, the sides flanked by a pair of handles, each skilfully cast in the form of a scaly dragon clambering on the shoulder of the vessel with the long tail extending across the exterior, the flat base centred with an apocryphal two-character Xuande seal mark, the exterior liberally decorated overall save for the mark with gold splashes
24.1 cm, 9 1/2 in.

Provenance:
The articulation of the dragons on the handles of this late Ming incense burner closely relates to the dragons on an ungilt incense burner from the collection of Robert Kresko, powerfully cast all over with dragons, sold in these rooms, 27th October 1992, lot 192, and illustrated in Philip K. Hu, Later Chinese Bronzes – The Saint Louis Art Museum and Robert Kresko Collections, St. Louis, 2008, cat. no. 24.