China, late 17th-19th century. The compressed globular body rising from a short spreading foot to an everted rim, set at the shoulder with a pair of loop handles. The underside with a seal mark cast in low relief within a horizontal, rectangular reserve, reading: “da Qing Kangxi nian zhi yan tai shi shi jing zao”.
Condition: The black lacquer coating is strongly worn with some areas revealing the naked bronze especially to the edges. There are areas of extensive erosion as well as dents and nicks all over, some soiling, and verdigris to the interior. Minor casting flaws. Provenance: From a British private estate.
Weight: 4.8 kg Dimensions: Height 11.5 cm
With an associated wood base dating from ca. 1900 and bearing several manually inscribed collectors’ notes on paper, written in German. (2)
Auction result comparison: Compare with a different censer, but bearing the same mark, at Lyon & Turnbull, London, June 16th 2015, lot 471, sold for GBP £7,500.