Gilt‑Bronze Lion‑Handle Rectangular Censer With Original Stand,Qing Dynasty 17th‑18th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions:Censer length 9.5 cm (3.74 in),Height 4.5 cm (1.77 in),Weight 611g,17th‑18th CenturyCondition & Provenance:Censer and matching original stand survive as one complete set.No cracks,no missing sections.The bronze casting is dense and heavy.Substantial areas of original gilding remain on exterior.Raised surfaces show natural wear and partial loss of gilding from centuries of ritual use,mixed with layered dark‑brown aged patina.There is no modern re‑gilding or artificial patination work.Two flanking lion‑head handles are sharply cast with well‑defined facial features and mane details,only minor wear from handling.Interior holds thick accumulated incense residue and smoke deposits,never heavily cleaned or polished.Square impressed base seal reads “Made by official Wu Bangzuo, Supervisor of the Ministry of Works in the 5th year of Xuande reign of Great Ming”.Characters are deeply cast with crisp strokes and antique patina within character grooves,no later re‑carving.The matching bronze stand shares identical patina and aging,fits tightly with censer body,minor wear along stand edges.Provenance:Private collection in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,United States.Purchased from Hong‑Kong antique dealer in 1960s and kept within single family collection up to present.description:This is a finely cast Qing‑dynasty gilt‑bronze rectangular censer with original bronze stand.This classic “horse‑trough” style belongs to the Xuande‑type censer tradition,widely used for incense burning in studies and ceremonial spaces.The vessel features straight rectangular walls with flat rim,side walls gently tapering toward base,supported by four folded corner feet.A pair of powerful lion‑head handles project outward on two opposite sides,with detailed curled mane and fierce vivid expression.The accompanying rectangular stand with four short feet fits perfectly beneath censer.Both pieces share matching bronze quality and surface patina confirming original set.The bronze alloy is high‑quality and substantial in weight.Remaining gilding is mottled and well‑aged,blending golden tone with antique bronze surface,carrying multi‑layer traces of time.The square base inscription is a famous post‑Ming commemorative official mark for Xuande‑style burners.Heavy smoke and incense buildup inside chamber authentically records long‑term usage without over‑restoration.Rectangular horse‑trough censers gained great popularity among Chinese literati and collectors from Ming through Qing periods.Complete examples retaining their original matching stand are quite rare.This piece boasts attractive aged gilt patina,vigorous lion‑head details and superior casting quality.It represents a high‑grade collectible antique bronze incense burner for scholarly display.

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