A LARGE GILT BRONZE & COPPER REPOUSSE CENSER, QING

A LARGE GILT BRONZE AND COPPER REPOUSSE CENSER AND COVER, FANGDING, QING DYNASTY
China, 1644-1912. The vessel is heavily cast in a bronze alloy, supported on four legs terminating in upturned ruyi heads. One long side is cast in high relief with two five-clawed dragons confronting a flaming pearl, the other with two tantric figures flanking a seated deity.

Provenance: From a private collector in Prague, Czech Republic.
Condition: Good condition with minor wear and casting flaws, some small dents and miniscule losses.

Weight: 2,851 g
Dimensions: Height 30.5 cm, Length 23.5 cm

The rim of the censer is executed in copper repousse with finely incised scroll motifs and inlaid with turquoise and coral cabochons. The ends are cast with lion masks suspending loose ring handles, below upright handles that rise from the rim. The openwork copper repousse cover is decorated similarly to the censer - with a 'Chinese' side showing a dharmachakra flanked by a caparisoned elephant and horse, and a 'Buddhist' side showing three deities - and centered by a flame-form mandorla with two original small hanging bells to either side.

Auction result comparison: Compare with a pair of nearly identical censers and covers sold by Christie's New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 19-20 September 2013, lot 1530, for USD $15,000 incl. buyer's premium.

銅鎏金雙龍戲珠紋方鼎式薰爐，清代
中國，1644-1912。蓋爐由青銅合金鑄造而成，四腿，蓋上長雙耳，如意形蓋鈕。 一側高浮雕雙龍戲珠，另一側則有佛教神像。

來源：捷克布拉格私人收藏家
品相：狀況良好，輕微磨損，鑄造缺陷，一些小凹痕和輕微缺損。

重量：2,851 克
尺寸：重量30.5 厘米，長23.5 厘米

拍賣成果比較：一對銅鎏金雙龍戲珠紋方鼎式蓋爐2013年9月19-20日于紐約佳士得《中國陶瓷和工藝品》拍號1530，成交價USD $15,000 含買家佣金。