A CHINESE GOLD-SPLASHED NARCISSUS BASIN-SHAPED BRONZE CENSER

Qing Dynasty, 17th / 18th Century

清十七或十八世紀 銅灑金水仙盆形香爐

《大明宣德年製》款

The oval-form basin with a flared rim and protuberant base raised on a trio of tapering feet, flanked by a pair of chilong dragons clambering up towards the rim, the exterior and part of the interior liberally-decorated with gilt splashes, the base with a recessed cartouche enclosing a six-character Xuande mark

13.5cm long, weight approx. 420g

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NOTE:

Of gentle and elegant form, this censer takes the form of a vessel type known as a 'narcissus bowl', shuixian pen. Serving as both an incense burner and a work of art in its own right, this gold-splashed censer would have most-likely sat atop a scholar's table.

A related gilt-splashed censer, dated to the 17th century, was sold at Sotheby's London, 17th May 2019, lot 351, and another in New York, 23rd September 2020, lot 623. A censer of comparable form but lacking in splashes of gold, dated to the 17th century, was sold at Sotheby's New York, 13th September 2016, lot 377.

A comparable censer is in the collection of Steven Hung and Lindy Chern, and illustrated by Huang, Kuang-nan in 'Chinese Incense Burners, the Collection of Steven Hung & Lindy Chern', The National Museum of History, Taipei, 2000, no. 78, p. 108. Another is in the Robert E. Kresko collection at the Saint Louis Art Museum, and illustrated in 'Later Chinese Bronzes, The Saint Louis Art Museum and Robert E. Kresko Collections', Saint Louis Art Museum, 2008, no. 16, pp. 88.93.

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