A parcel-gilt bronze censer and cover, 17th century | 十七世纪 銅局部鎏金海獸紋鋪首耳熏爐

A parcel-gilt bronze censer and cover

17th century

十七世纪 銅局部鎏金海獸紋鋪首耳熏爐

the rounded rectangular body rising from a spreading foot to an everted rim, finely cast in deep and high relief around the exterior with a broad band of mythical sea creatures amid tumultuous foaming waves, set to either end with a gilt lion-mask handle suspending a loose ring, the base with an apocryphal six-character Xuande mark within a recessed rectangle, the domed cover similarly cast and pierced with a pair of dragons and phoenixes cast in high relief amidst cloud scrolls, surmounted by a pierced coiled dragon finial, the stand similarly decorated with a band of lappets cast along the foot (3)

Height 10 ⅞ in., 27.5 cm