A GILT-BRONZE 'LION' INCENSE BURNERMing/Qing DynastyThe animal-form cast standing four-square, swirls ofqi covering the beast's body, a tasseled collar with a bell hanging at the chest, the lion's upturned head framed by a thick, curly mane forming the cover and attached by a hinge.11.5cm (4 1/2in) highProvenance: 明/清 銅鎏金甪端香爐Incense burners of this type were modelled to allow the smoke of the burning incense to emerge from the beast's mouth, giving the impression of a living creature breathing smoke. See a closely related gilt bronze incense burner in the form of a mythical beast, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection, illustrated inArts from the Scholar's Studio, Hong Kong, 1986, pp.240-241, no.232, later sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2014, lot 233.此類薰爐焚香時，香氳自獸口湧出，甪端如生，吐納自若，設計巧妙，頗見匠心。水松石山房舊藏一件銅鎏金甪端香爐可資比較，鑄宣德年款於頸環，見《Arts from the Scholar's Studio》，香港，1986年，頁240-241，編號232，2014年4月8日售於香港蘇富比，拍品233。