A BRONZE CENSER WITH A ZITAN WOOD COVER AND A WHITE JADE FINIAL, 17TH-18TH CENTURYChina. Of bombé form, rising from a flaring foot to a waisted neck with straight lipped rim, flanked by two S-shaped beast mask handles. The zitan wood cover carved with a circular rib and surmounted by a pierced white jade finial in the form of a lotus bud and raised on a lappet base.Inscriptions: To the base, ‘Meiwen […]’.Provenance: British trade.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few nicks, small dents, light surface scratches, the interior slightly pitted, casting flaws, and malachite encrustations. The zitan cover with traces of use, some wear and minuscule natural age cracks.Weight: 2,137.3 gDimensions: Length 21.1 cm (across handles)Expert’s note: Note the well-balancedposition of the bronze censer, zitan wood cover, and white jade finial, which all date back to the same period. It is extremely rare to find a set that stillprises all its parts after such a long time.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s London, 22 February 2022, lot 50Price: GBP 3,528 or approx.EUR 4,100 converted at the time of writingDescription: A large bronze tripod censer with chilong handles, wood cover, late Ming dynastyExpert remark:pare the related form, beast handles, zitan cover, and hardstone “finial” which is in fact a repurposed snuff bottle stopper, used to replace a lost jade finial. Note the size (25 cm) and tripod feet.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 1 June 2015, lot 781Price: HKD 93,750 or approx.EUR 13,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A silver-inlaid bronze censer, gui, Ming dynasty, 17th centuryExpert remark:pare the related form, and beast mask handles. Note the inlays and size (23.1 cm).十七至十八世紀紫檀木蓋銅爐中國。銅質精良厚實，器形端莊，器呈對稱獸面雙耳，線條流暢，紫檀木爐蓋，蓋鈕雕成蓮花狀鑲白玉蓮花鈕，皮殼包漿。款識：圈足内“美文□”