Qing Dynasty Qianlong Mark Gilt Bronze Treasure Censer with Four Lion Mask Ring Handles, Qing Dynasty (18th Century)

拍品描述

Dimensions：Mouth Diameter 16 cm (6.3 in), Height 9.2 cm (3.6 in), Weight 2720g, 18th Century Qing Dynasty，condition & Provenance：The bronze body is dense and weighty, fully intact without cracks, repairs or missing components. The dark bronze surface with scattered natural gold patina is authentic and well-aged. Gilding on four lion mask handles remains rich with natural layered wear. The interior features natural mottled gold patina mixed with light green copper encrustation from long-term use. The six-character seal mark “Da Qing Qian Long Nian Zhi” cast on base is sharp, deep and free of wear. Classified as bronze ware, this piece was exported to North America decades ago and kept in a private collection of antique bronze collectors based in San Francisco, California, USA. It comes with complete vintage overseas auction records and archival photos, with no modern alterations such as recarved marks, regilding or artificial aging treatments.Description：This gilt bronze treasure basin bearing Qianlong reign mark is an imperial-style bronze decorative vessel for study rooms dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Craftsmen cast this piece with high-quality refined brass, delivering a solid, heavy hand feel. It adopts the classic treasure basin shape with wide rounded rim, curved belly and narrow flat base, featuring smooth, full contours and evenly thick walls made with precise casting techniques. The thick rolled rim frames the opening, with four symmetrically carved lion mask appliqués evenly distributed around the vessel wall. Each lion head boasts intricate three-dimensional facial details and layered curled mane, holding a freely movable bronze ring in its mouth. Every lion mask is fully gilded, creating a striking luxurious contrast against the deep aged bronze base. The outer wall is covered with original dark brown lacquer ground scattered with irregular natural gold flecks. Centuries of oxidation have built a smooth, mellow antique patina with varied gold tones across the surface. The wide interior cavity is covered with mixed gold patina and natural pale green copper verdigris, genuine aging traces accumulated from long-term display and usage, with multi-layered rust deposits free of chemical artificial aging. A circular six-character seal script reign mark “Da Qing Qian Long Nian Zhi” is cast at the center of the base, with neat layout and sturdy calligraphy matching standard official Qing dynasty mark styles. This artifact combines multiple classic bronze craftsmanship including casting, fire gilding, relief carving and antique patina finishing. It works as feng shui wealth basin, scholar’s censer and high-end collectible simultaneously. The four lion masks carry traditional auspicious meanings of guarding the residence and gathering fortune from all four directions. Complete surviving specimens retaining original gilding, natural ancient patina and clear authentic Qianlong mark are extremely rare on the market, highly sought after by American bronze antique collectors. It matches perfectly with traditional Chinese, mid-century modern and wabi-sabi interior decor styles for display.

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