Page 96 - 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 3363

A SILVER-INLAID BRONZE INCENSE BURNER, GUI
LATE MING DYNASTY

of archaistic gui form, the gently rounded body supported on a straight foot cast with two
ring handles issuing from stylised taotie, decorated with an inlaid silver design, the neck
with a band of stylised kui dragons, all above two rectangular friezes of taotie masks
encircling the body, the mouthrim bordered with a key-fret border, the foot with archaistic
scroll motifs, wood stand
16.3 cm., 6 3/8 in.
ESTIMATE 60,000-80,000 HKD
Lot Sold: 75,000 HKD

CATALOGUE NOTE

The finesse and style of the archaistic silver inlay bears a certain resemblance to the work of Shisou. The present
example, however, is more organic in feel and more in keeping with other known Ming metalwork. Particularly
noticeable is the difference in colouring. The present example exhibits a pleasant warm tone which contrasts with the
cooler coloured silver inlay, whereas much of the Shisou work exhibits a harsher gun-metal grey tone. Reducing the
inlay to silver alone is, however, rare to find outside the work of Shisou. Whether the present example was the work of
an entirely different workshop, or whether it was a predecessor of the Shisou school of inlay is yet to be established.