A Chinese gold-splashed bronze tripod censer dating from the 18th century with a wooden lid and hardwood stand. The lid features 3 quatrefoil cutouts with pairs of beasts. The lid has an elephant and vase finial. The censer has elephant handles and legs. Dimensions are: 14 1/2 inches tall X 12 inches wide at the handles X 8 1/2 inches wide, 36.83 cm X 30.48 cm X 21.59 cm, 5222 grams. All measurements are approximate. Condition: Good condition. A reminder that all lots are sold as-is. We have sought to record the changes in the condition of this piece after its initial manufacture as diligently as possible; however, as stated in our terms, condition reports are statements of opinion and not representations or warranties. Oakridge Auction Gallery bears no responsibility for any error or omission. Provenance: The lot comes with a copy of provenance documentation. From a collector in Atlanta, Georgia. She and her late husband owned a department store in Atlanta, and they were world travelers. Most of the items in their collection were acquired by them from the 1940s to the 1970s. Notes: The incense burner is made of bronze covered in splashes of gold. Its body has a deep belly flanked by two elephant heads with upturned trunks resembling handles. The three legs of the incense burner are also shaped like elephant heads, these with the trunks supporting the vessel as its feet. These feet stand upon the censer's original hardwood base. The matching bronze lid is decorated with hollowed-out double dragons playing with beads, and an elephant tops off the incense burner as the lid's finial. Few other incense burners have such a unique and elaborate design, incorporating multiple difficult techniques like casting and joining large, detailed elements and splash-gilding. This censer is also very large, adding to its list of impressive features. The carving throughout is exquisite, which is the icing on the cake.香爐為銅質，形體較為修長，全身灑金。爐身為深腹碗狀，爐身兩側飾有兩個象頭，翹起的長鼻恰似爐的兩個長耳，爐身之下以三個大象伸出長鼻的形象作為爐的支撐腳，爐蓋隆起，以鏤空的雙龍戲珠紋作裝飾，蓋頂以象馱寶瓶以裝飾。歷代帝王皆有以銅、玉、瓷等材質禦制「太平有象」器型，或陳列於朝堂，或置於案台，以求「四海升平、吉祥平安」，更寓意「福壽天地無雙」「掐業萬年青長」。該爐設計獨特，此款式為宮廷獨有，體型在同時代作品中較為偏大，品種更為稀少。爐身纏枝花卉紋采用了深雕的裝飾技法，具有很強的三維效果。並且此爐原配硬木底座，形制為典型的宮廷式樣，雕工精湛，為此爐錦上添花。 A similar elephant censer, but without gold splashes, is currently housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing under accession number 00095770. A similar gilt bronze elephant censer was previously sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong on October 4, 2011, as lot 2097. A similar elephant incense burner with gold splashes was sold at Christie's Hong Kong on December 1, 2015, as lot 3161. High resolution photos can be found here.參閱北京故宮博物院館藏銅纏枝花卉紋象耳足蓋爐，編號新00095770(fig. 1)。另見香港蘇富比拍賣2011年04月，編號2097；香港佳士得拍賣2015年12月，編號3161。