Page 25 - Later Chinese Bronzes from the Collection of Ulrich-Hk 2014

Later Chinese Bronzes from the Collection of Ulrich
Hausmann
Hong Kong | 08 Oct 2014, 11:45 AM | HK0558

LOT 3316

A BRONZE INCENSE BURNER, LIDING
MING DYNASTY

of archaistic liding form, the compressed globular body supported on three short tapering
feet, the slightly flared mouthrim surmounted by a pair of arched handles, the base cast
with a recessed rectangular panel enclosing an inscription reading Da Ming Xuande wunian
jiandugong bu guanchen Wu Bangzuo Zao (‘Made for the Board of Works under the
Supervision of Wu Bangzuo in the Fifth Year of Xuande’), the patinated bronze surface of a
warm caramel-brown colour
20 cm., 7 7/8 in.

ESTIMATE 100,000-150,000 HKD
Lot Sold: 400,000 HKD

PROVENANCE

Dr R.O. Wheeler, Marlborough, England, 1970s.
Brian Harkins Oriental Art, London, 1980s.

CATALOGUE NOTE

The inscription is one of a series of apocryphal ones stating that Wu Bangzuo, the Minister of the Ministry of Works in
the 5th year of Xuande, supervised production which tend to appear on late Ming and Qing incense burners. Whether
or not such an inscription appeared on any Xuande period bronzes is unclear, as there do not appear to be any
credible extant examples, but it became a standard late Ming or Qing designation. For a related example, see Paul
Moss and Gerard Hawthorn, The Second Bronze Age. Later Chinese Metalwork. Sydney Moss Ltd., London, 1991,
cat. no. 46. See also a bronze incense burner stand with this inscription from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat
Collection, sold in these rooms, 8th April 2014, lot 243.
Ulrich Hausmann is of the opinion that this censer is early Ming Dynasty, and possibly even of the Xuande period.