A Bronze Censer Ming Dynasty, 17th Century

the deep cup-shaped body finely cast with gently tapering side supported on a high, slightly splayed foot, the exterior decorated with a band of petal lappets, each enclosing a stylised pendent trefoil motif and framed by a simulated rope, flanked at the shoulder by a pair of phoenix handles, the outer footrim made up of pendent formalised lotus lappets, cast in relief with a six-character Xuande mark (apocryphal) in a vertical column down the central lotus petal on one side