A parcel gilt-bronze and silver incense burner and cover Ming dynasty, 17th century | 明十七世紀 局部鎏金銅嵌銀開光花鳥紋象足熏爐

Vessels of this design with barbed outlines enclosing panels of decoration in high relief are very rare. Compare a related silver jue cup with high-relief mask feet and three cup-stands, all discovered in a hoard at Tongdao county, Hunan province and dated to the Southern Ming (1644-1662), illustrated in Zhongguo jinyin boli falangqi quanji [Complete collection of gold and silver wares, glasswares and cloisonne enamels], vol. 3: Gold and silver wares III, Beijing, 2004, pls 280-283, together with a silver bow with high-relief motifs of eight horses excavated in Chongqing, dated to the Chongzheng period, pl. 268. There is also a parcel gilt-bronze cup and cupstand with barbed panels enclosing birds and prunus in high relief in the collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, no. GB124; see our New York rooms, 19th March 2002, lot 154.