明十七世紀 銅美人春睡鎮紙 《宣德年製》仿款

cast as a lady reclining against a pillow on a large leaf forming the base of the paperweight, her head resting on her propped up left elbow, her serene expression framed by her neatly tied hair, the figure dressed in long flowing robes with a long flowing sash draped around her arms and shoulders, the base incised with an apocryphal four-character Xuande reign mark, the bronze of a warm golden patina 

Like so many of the small objects for the scholar's studio, this would have been primarily intended as a paperweight, but would also serve as an occasional brushrest for a single brush if necessary. For another bronze paperweight with a similar incised Xuande mark, but in the form of a Buddhist lion, see the example from the Mary and George Collection and subsequently the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection, sold in these rooms 23rd October 2005, lot 47 and 8th April 2014, lot 238.