A BRONZE CENSER WITH PHOENIX MASK HANDLES, 17TH-18TH CENTURY China. Finely cast, of bombé form, supported on a short spreading foot, with an everted rim, the waisted neck set with a distinct pair of pierced phoenix mask handles.

Provenance: From an old private collection in Bavaria, Germany, acquired in the 1960s and thence by descent.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, traces of use, casting flaws, few minute nicks and light scratches.
Weight: 327.1 g
Dimensions: Diameter 9.9 cm

The base with an apocryphal six-character mark Daming Xuande nianzhi within a rectangular reserve.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's London, 9 November 2011, lot 798
Price: GBP 5,000 or approx. EUR 7,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Chinese bronze censer, 17th/18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and phoenix mask handles. Note the size (8.9 cm).



十七至十八世紀鳳凰輔首銅爐
中國。鑄造精美，口外撇，束頸，鼓腹下垂，高圈足。頸部一對鳳凰輔首。

來源：德國巴伐利亞私人舊藏，購於上世紀六十年代，保存至今。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損、使用痕跡、鑄造缺陷、少量刻痕和輕微劃痕。

重量：327.1 克
尺寸：直徑9.9 厘米

圈足内偽款“大明宣德年製”。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2011年11月9日，lot 798
價格：GBP 5,000（相當於今日EUR 7,700）
描述：十七至十八世紀鳳凰輔首銅爐
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形和鳳凰輔首。請注意尺寸(8.9 厘米)。