AN ARCHAISTIC BRONZE CENSER, GUI, QING DYNASTY

AN ARCHAISTIC BRONZE CENSER, GUI, QING DYNASTY

China, 1644-1912. The gently rounded sides supported on a waisted foot and rising to a flared rim, flanked by a pair of kui dragon handles with short pendent tabs, the body cast with two taotie masks separated by narrow flanges against a key-fret ground.

Provenance: From a private collection in the United Kingdom, and thence by descent in the family.
Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear, traces of use, casting flaws, small nicks and minute dents, light scratches. The bronze with a fine, smooth, naturally grown, dark patina.

Weight: 650.6 g
Dimensions: Width 14.3 cm

The recessed base cast with an apocryphal four-character mark Xuande nianzhi.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 25 September 2020, lot 1605
Price: USD 8,125 or approx. EUR 8,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An archaistic bronze gui-form censer, 18th-19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form and manner of casting. Note the related size (17.1 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 27 March 2018, lot 2
Price: USD 4,750 or approx. EUR 5,400 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An archaistic bronze vessel, gui, Qing dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related form and manner of casting. Note the larger size (29 cm).