A PARCEL-GILT 'MYTHICAL SEA CREATURES' BRONZE CENSER, GUI, MING DYNASTY, SIGNED HU WENMING

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A PARCEL-GILT 'MYTHICAL SEA CREATURES' BRONZE CENSER, GUI, MING DYNASTY, SIGNED HU WENMING China, late 16th-early 17th century. Heavily cast, the sides decorated with a band of mythical sea creatures emerging from shells and frolicking amidst waves, a band of ruyi-shaped leaves alternating with tendrils encircling the slightly flared foot, and a band of confronting phoenixes on the waisted neck, the pair of C-scroll handles cast as a dragon body issuing from the mouth of a dragon mask, all of the decoration gilded in contrast to the dark ground. Inscriptions: To the base, ‘Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi’ (‘made by Hu Wenming of Yunjian’) Dimensions: Width 17.6 cm (across handles) Hu Wenming (active c. 1573-1620) is one of the most renowned metalworkers in Chinese history and one of the few whose name and style are discussed in Chinese art-historical writing. Originally from Yunjian (present-day Songjiang near Shanghai), he became one of the most accomplished craftsmen of the late Ming dynasty. Most of the works attributed to Hu Wenming are scholarly objects, such as incense burners and brush pots, characterized by densely worked backgrounds covered with naturalistic and other motifs cast in high relief. His works frequently reinterpret archaic bronze forms with refined late-Ming ornamentation, such as ring-punched grounds, scrolling foliage, mythical beasts, and wave patterns. His work was highly regarded by the educated elite in the Jiangnan region (lower Yangzi delta). Many surviving pieces, like the present lot, bear his six-character seal-script mark ‘Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi’, indicating workshop pride. His works are held in major museum collections and frequently cited as benchmarks of Ming dynasty metalwork. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 19 September 2006, lot 122 Price: USD 19,200 or approx. EUR 27,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the similar subject, parcel gilt highlights, form, and mark. Note the size (22.2 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 November 2020, lot 2804 Price: HKD 175,000 or approx. EUR 21,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the similar form and size (16.5 cm).

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