RARE AND LARGE BRONZE 'CONSTELLATIONS' COVERED CENSER QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY supported by three mask feet, the baluster sides ornamented with a band of constellations and calligraphy, flanked by twin mask handles, the pierced cover with a further band of calligraphy and trigrams, surmounted by a mythical qilin, the underside with a further trigrams seal mark. ‘The twenty-eight mansions’ characters on the body and ‘twelve earthly branches’ characters on the lid. Twenty eight mansions are part of the Chinese constellations system. 35cm high PROVENANCE: From a Private Wiltshire Collection.