A Parcel-Gilt Bronze Incense Burner
LIKELY 17TH CENTURY
of archaistic gui form, the compressed globular body raised on a flared foot surmounted by a lipped mouth rim, the sides finely cast in relief with a central panel showing birds and mythical beasts above waves, between two bands of stylized phoenix birds flanking butterflies, all set above a geometric diaper ground, flanked by a pair of dragon-head handles, the underside incised with a six-character maker's mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi (Made by Hu Wenming of Yunjian) within a gilt rectangular panel, together with a reticulated hongmu cover.
Diameter 5 inches.

Property from the Private Collection of a Midwestern Lady

Provenance:
Acquired from the Estate of Robert Zuege, circa 1973

Note
For an example with similar decoration see Christie's Hong Kong, The Imperial and Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, June 3, 2015, sale 3433, lot 3310