BRONZE TRIPOD CENSER XUANDE MARK, LATE MING TO QING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY 明末清初 '宣德五年製造'底款 銅鑄沖耳三足爐 of compressed bulbous form supported on three short tapering feet, flanked by a pair of upward facing loop handles on the rim, the base with a six-character 'Xuan De Wu Nian Zhi Zao (Made in the Fifth Year of Xuande Reign)' in a recessed panel (19.5cm wide; 2767g) Qty: (1) Provenance: Private English collection, Kent Note: With an original valuation letter from Sotheby's London dated to 1983, commented and signed by Conor Mahony as "This, although bearing the incised mark of the Emperor Xuande, most probably dates from the early 17th century and we would expect it to realise in the region of £60-90 at auction."