A BRONZE ‘BUDDHIST LION’ CENSER, MING
China 17th century. Cast seated, the raised head with large round eyes beneath thick curled eyebrows, the mouth opened revealing sharp fangs, grasping the ends of a twisted rope leading to the brocade ball under its left front paw, the body detailed with a combed mane and upright bushy tail.

Provenance: Canadian private collection.
Condition: Fine dark patina. Excellent condition with some wear, tiny dents and traces of use, mostly to base. One small claw lost. Rare to find in such pristine condition!

Weight: 3.7 kilograms
Dimensions: Height 24.5 cm

Note the cleverly camouflaged and removable piece of fur on the lion’s back serving as the place for inserting the incense.

Auction result comparison: Compare with a closely related bronze at Sotheby’s London on May 14th, 2014, in Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, lot 305.

明代青銅佛獅香爐
中國，十七世紀。佛獅獅頭上揚，大眼炯炯，嘴中獠牙叼著拴著火珠的帶 子，火珠被踏于左前腿下，尾巴直立濃密，整體形象生動。

來源：加拿大私人收藏.
品相：暗色包漿細膩，品相極好，一些磨損，輕微凹痕和使用痕跡，主要 在底部。遺失一小爪。很難找到這麽好的原始狀態。

重量：3.7 公斤
尺寸：高 24.5 厘米