A rare silver inlaid parcel-gilt bronze censer MING DYNASTY, WANLI PERIOD YUNJIAN HU WENMING ZHI MARK

of tapering cylindrical form resting on three short butterfly-shaped feet, the exterior finely cast with a band of flowerimg planb including peony, narcissus, lingzhi, fungus, fruit blossom and lotus all against a floral diaper ground, between inlaid silver wire keyfret bands at the rim and foot, the base incised with the six-character mark Yunjian Hu wenming zhi, carved and pierced hard wood cover surrounded by a green stained carved bone knop

See two closely related cylindrical incense burners bearing the mark of the famous Ming dynasty metalworker Hu Wenming, illustrated in Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, 'Chinese Metalwork of the Hu Wenming Group', International Asian Antiques Fair, Hong Kong, 1984, p. 48, pls. 12 and 13. For detailed information on the work of Hu see ibid., pp. 33-68. Compare also a censer sold at Christie's London, 14/17th June 1985, lot 397; and one published in Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, London, 1990, pl. 51-3, of similar shape and signed by Hu Wenming but decorated with figures in landscape.