A SILVER AND GILT INLAID BRONZE CENSER, GUI, BY HU WENMING MING DYNASTY, EARLY 17TH CENTURY

modelled after the archaic bronze gui censer with well patinated bombé sides supported on a tall splayed foot, the sides flanked by a pair of mythical beast heads, each issuing a 'C'-shaped handle terminating in a comma-shaped tab, inlaid beneath the rim with a register containing a pair of silver-wire taotie mask with gilt eyes, flanked by gilt 'sun' whorls and flower heads all on a silver-wire leiwen ground, the foot encircled by a ring of upright silver-wire cicada lappets, the mouth and foot rim finished in gilt, the underside cast with a six-character seal script mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi ('Made by Hu Wenming of Yunjian')

S. Marchant & Son, London, April 1982.

Special Exhibition for the International Asian Antiques Fair, Hong Kong, 1984.

Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, 'Chinese Metalwork of the Hu Wenming Group', Handbook, International Asian Antiques Fair, Hong Kong, 1984, p. 36, fig. 3.

Apart from some typical wear to the gilt decoration especially on the rims and handles, the overall condition is very good with only some very minor casting flaws to the underside.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present finely cast bronze incense burner belongs to a small group of wares made by the master artist Hu Wenming of the late Ming dynasty. It is especially large and substantially cast, with generous and especially thick wired inlay in gold and silver. It is likely to have been made in the same period as the dated bronze pou form vessel in this catalogue lot 118.  The vessel is decorated with the motif of alternating whorl circles and formalized flower heads which, while drawing on archaic design prototypes, is contemporary and inspired. 

Cast bronze vessels made by Hu are amongst the rarest and finest of his work, although there are some outstanding beaten copper pieces as well. For a detailed discussion of Hu and his works see the notes to the pou, lot 118, in this catalogue.

Compare a gui form bronze censer bearing Hu's signature, sold in our London rooms, 11th July 1978, lot 29; another with the same mark included in the exhibition China's Renaissance in Bronze, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, 1993, cat. no. 12, from the Robert H. Clague collection; and a third example sold at Christie's New York, 19th September 2006, lot 122.