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A GILT BRONZE DRAGON BELT SET.
Qing Dynasty.
Each of the three panels decorated in relief with a coiled dragon. (2)
7cm long.
83g.
£600-800
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A GILT BRONZE 'BUDDHIST LION DOGS' BELT SET.
Qing Dynasty.
Modelled with a central panel of a pair of Buddhist lion dogs around a ball, enclosed by two further panels each enclosing a lion and ball.
8cm long.
115g.
£800-1,200
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A GILT BRONZE 'EUROPEANS' BELT HOOK AND BUCKLE.
Qing Dynasty, 18th Century.
A dragon head hook connecting the two sections formed with quatrefoil panels enclosing interior scenes with Europeans. (2)
13.5cm long.
295g.
£3,500-4,000
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A BRONZE INCENSE BURNER.
Qing Dynasty, 18th Century.
Of cylindrical form, on a short cylindrical foot, set with elephant head handles, six character Xuande mark to base.
8.7cm H, 11cm diameter.
759g.
£2,000-3,000
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A BRONZE INCENSE BURNER.
Ming Dynasty.
The body modelled with vertical stylised lappets rising to flat shoulders and an everted rim, resting on three short legs, six character Xuande mark to base.
6cm H, 12cm diameter.
370g.
£600-800
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A BRONZE INCENSE BURNER.
17th Century.
The semi-spherical body with a raised cloud pattern band around the body, supported on splayed feet with a rope twist handles supported on the rim, six character Xuande mark to base.
11cm H, 15cm diameter.
675g.
£1,000-2,000
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A BRONZE INCENSE BURNER, GUI.
Early Qing Dynasty, signed Hu Wenming.
Of archaistic gui form, cast with a taotie mask on each side and flanked by mythical beast projecting loop handles, four character Hu Wenming zhi mark to base.
7.5cm H, 9cm diameter.
775g.
£300-500
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A BRONZE FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA.
Tang Dynasty.
Standing with one hand resting on the hips the other extended, with a trail of ribbons extending from behind the shoulders.
8.5cm H.
50g.
Provenance: English private collection, formerly in the Alex Biancardi Collection, Paris.
£1,000-2,000
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A MINIATURE BRONZE GUI.
Ming Dynasty.
Standing on four paw feet issuing from animal masks the contracted neck with a band archaistic patterns and flanked by two loop handles with hooked pendent extensions springing from animal masks.
8.5cm H, 7cm diameter.
555g.
£100-200
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A MINIATURE BRONZE 'CICADA' VASE.
17th to 18th Century.
of rectangular section, the pear-shaped body rising from a short splayed foot, rising to a waisted neck and a flared mouth, the neck cast in low relief with a band of archaistic kui dragons against a leiwan ground, all above archaistic pendant cicada blades.
9.5cm H.
279g.
£800-1,200
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A BRONZE CIRCULAR POWDER BOX AND COVER.
Qing Dynasty, 18th Century.
The domed cover incised with a flower head and attendant stems. (2)
4.5cm diameter.
94g.
£200-300
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A TRIPOD BRONZE CENSER.
Ming Dynasty.
The plain globular body supported on tripod legs emerging from mythical animal masks, the cylindrical neck with leiwen patterns below an overflowing rim, a pair of twin upright handles.
31.5cm H.
4.6kg.
£300-500
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A TRIPOD BRONZE INCENSE BURNER.
Ming Dynasty.
The compressed globular body decorated with the characters kan and shou, of hexagonal form, rising to a galleried rim, the shoulders flanked by two curved handles, all supported on tripod lion-mask surmounted cabriole legs, wood stand and cover, with jade finial, the handles inscribed to the right ear shi'er nian siyue shiwu ri (the fifteenth, the fourth month, the twelfth year). (3)
23cm.
2.25kg.
£400-600
| READING BRONZE: DATED INSCRIPTIONS OF THE MING DYNASTY (lots 63-66) | |
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A BRONZE OFFICIAL HORSE WARRANT.
Joseon Dynasty, dated 1624.
Of circular form, one side with three overlapping horses, the reverse inscribed 'the Fourth Year of Cheonki' and with the seal of Sangseowon.
12cm long.
636g.
£100-200
During the Joseon, officials of the central government, when travelling through regional areas on public duty, were allowed to use saddle horses kept at government-run post stations upon presenting a special warrant such as this one. The bearer of the warrant was entitled to use the number of horses carved on the badge.
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A DOCUMENTARY BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL, GUI.
Ming Dynasty, 15th to 17th Century.
Raised on four paw feet issuing from taotie masks, the compressed globular body cast with horizontal bands between a band of taotie masks and mythical beasts against a leiwen ground, set to each side by a mythical beast head mask issuing loop handles, inscribed to base Da De yuan nian, longxinglu xue, jingshou Yao Gengsun, tidiao ruxue ti ju si guan zongguan Chen Yuankai (made in the first year of the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty [1426] at Longxing Road to commemorate the nomination of Chen Yuankai to the position of head of Confucian studies at the Confucian Institute by Official Yao Gengsun), wood cover. (2)
19cm H.
2kg.
£1,000-2,000
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A GILT BRONZE BUDDHA.
Ming Dynasty.
Seated in long flowing robes, the chest exposed, on a double lotus base, the reverse with an incised mark to the base, Zhou Suiyun shi, xishi fuzun qinyuan.. qing.. muyuan seng zun, Chenghua shinian (created for Zhou Suiyuan in recognition of alms giving and dedication in the tenth year of Chenghua [1475]).
18.5cm H.
741g.
£3,000-5,000
Chenghua mark Buddhist bronzes are extremely rare. For another example see von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, 1981, cat no 150.
| THE LITERARY AND THE RELIGIOUS: FURTHER FIGURATIVE SCULPTURE (lots 67-75) | |
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A BRONZE FIGURE OF SHOULAO.
Ming Dynasty, or later.
The figure standing in long flowing robes, with elongated domed forehead, long trailing beard and downcast eyes, standing behind a tortoise on a short base with four ruyi head feet.
28.5cm H.
2.25kg.
£5,000-8,000
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A BRONZE MODEL OF AN IMMORTAL.
Late Ming to early Qing Dynasty.
Standing on a rocky base covered with sea crustaceans and waves, with the chest open, his garments billowing, the right arm raised, the head lowered to the right to observe the crane beside him on which he rests the left arm.
30cm H.
1.4kg.
£2,000-3,000
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A STANDING BRONZE FIGURE.
Ming Dynasty.
Standing on a rectangular plinth with one foot raised, carrying an implement the head slightly lowered.
23cm H.
1.097g.
£300-500
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A BRONZE FIGURE OF LU DONGBIN.
Ming Dynasty, 16th to 17th Century.
Standing elegantly posed in long trailing robes, the face with an expression of deep contemplation, dressed in long flowing windswept scholar's robes, the right hand gesturing, wood stand.
17cm H.
296g.
£500-800
For similar figures see Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, 1990, cat no 64 and 65.
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A GILT BRONZE FIGURE.
Ming Dynasty.
Standing on a square base in long flowing robes, the hems incised with cloud patterns, the eyes raised skywards, the hands together holding a ritual hu.
43cm H.
4.5kg.
£6,000-8,000
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A GILT-LACQUER 'DU FU' INCENSE BURNER.
Ming Dynasty, 17th Century.
The figure forming the cover and seated on a donkey standing foursquare with the long neck lowered, the head outstretched and with long pointed ears. (2)
50cm H.
6.3kg.
£8,000-12,000
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A GILT-LACQUER 'LAOZI AND BUFFALO' INCENSE BURNER.
Ming Dynasty, 16th to 17th Century.
The cover formed as the sage, Laozi, seated side saddle with the right hand clasping his scroll, his mouth pierced, and eyes slightly downcast, dressed in long flowing robes, his lower back also pierced through with an aperture, fitted into the back of the hollow buffalo, standing with the head turned to the left and slightly cocked in a state of dynamic motion with the left foreleg raised, and the tongue licking the nose, the tail delicately resting on the left hind leg. (2)
32.5cm H.
3.82kg.
£12,000-15,000
The quality of casting and sculptural prowess of the present work is notable, particularly in view of the fact that a Laozi and buffalo form incense burner was represented in the Imperial collection of the Yongzheng emperor which may be found in the Guwan tu handscroll painted in 1729, now in the collection of the V&A Museum, London, see Regina Krahl, 'The Yongzheng Emperor and the Qing Court Collection', Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, volume 80, 2015-2016.
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A PAIR OF BRONZE INCENSE BURNERS FORMED AS THE FIGURES ZHANG GUOLAO AND LI TIEGUAI.
Late Ming Dynasty, 17th Century.
One depicting Zhang Guolao as the cover seated with a ruyi sceptre in the left hand, riding a donkey with bulging eyes the front right foot raised and head turned slightly to the right, over a stylised rocky base with an attendant boy carrying a fish drum, the other depicts Li Tieguai riding on a mythical animal whose head turns to the left, with an attendant boy behind. (4)
30cm H.
5.25kg; 5.42kg.
£10,000-20,000
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A BRONZE MODEL OF WENCHANG WANG.
Ming Dynasty, signed Xue Mingyang.
Seated in long flowing robes incised with dragon designs, signed Xue Mingyang zhi below the right shoulder, carved and pierced wooden stand. (2)
21cm H.
1.05kg.
£10,000-15,000
Xue Mingyang appears unrecorded in the literature, however, a figurative incense burner depicting Laozi is published in Paul Moss and Gerard Hawthorn, The Second Bronze Age: Later Chinese Metalwork, 1991, cat no 39.
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A BRONZE NARCISSUS BOWL 'DRAGON' INCENSE BURNER, AND STAND.
Qing Dynasty.
Of oval form, supported by four stepped feet, modelled with two chilong clambering on the rim, forming the handles, the stand with four stepped feet. (2)
10cm H, 25cm long.
1.3kg.
£200-300
| LOTUS SCROLL (lots 77-80) | |
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A PAIR OF RECTANGULAR BRONZE JARDINIÈRES.
Qing Dynasty, 18th Century.
Each of rectangular section, the sides with quatrefoil panels with raised outlines enclosing lotus scroll, against a chaised lotus scroll ground, everted rim incised with lotus and key fret, all supported on four short feet. (2)
9.5cm H, 20.1cm long.
450g.
£500-800
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A PARCEL-GILT OPENWORK 'LOTUS SCROLL' SPHERICAL INCENSE BURNER AND COVER.
Qing Dynasty, 18th to 19th Century.
Delicately cast with a spherical body comprising of two hemispheres, each reticulated with a pattern of scrolling foliage bearing gilded lotus flowers, the interior fitted with three ring gimbals and a central bowl. (2)
11.5cm diameter.
336g.
£10,000-12,000
Reticulated spherical incense burners emerged in China in the Tang period, see for example Su Fuxi, Silver and Gold Wares, 2012, p 86 cat no 97 for a silver example excavated in Sanzhao Village, Qujiang County, Yanta District, Xi'an in 1965. The form later spread through the Islamic world and to Japan.
The treatment of the lotus scroll in the present piece compares closely to the designs on a incense set of boxes and burner published in Paul Moss and Gerard Hawthorn, The Second Bronze Age: Later Chinese Metalwork, 1991, cat no 42, which is described as 'Tonkin' and for the Japanese market [below].
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A SILVER INCENSE BURNER.
19th Century.
The compressed globular body, raised on three baluster feet, decorated with flowering lotus scroll above a lappet band, with a pair of protruding lion-head handles flanking the sides, impressed marks to base.
9cm H, 13cm diameter.
718g.
£3,000-5,000
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A BRONZE 'LOTUS SCROLL' INCENSE BURNER, GUI.
Ming Dynasty, signed Hu Wenming.
Of archaistic gui form, the gently rounded body supported on a cylindrical foot, the body with a pattern of flowering lotus scroll, the upper band with a frieze of auspicious emblems and a scrolling band of foliated lingzhi stems around the footrim, the shoulders surmounted by a pair of mythical beast heads issuing handles, the base centred with a mark reading Hu Wenming zhi.
9.5cm H, 10.4cm diameter.
1.45kg.
£12,000-15,000
| A HU WENMING BOX FROM AN ENGLISH PRIVATE COLLECTION (lot 81) | |
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A PARCEL-GILT INCENSE BOX AND COVER.
Ming Dynasty, 16th to 17th Century, signed Hu Wenming.
The central medallion to the cover depicts plum blossoms in gilt above a textured ground, the sides of the box and cover inlaid in silver with leiwen bands, the base with a gilt rectangular intaglio mark, Hu Wenming zhi. (2)
3cm H, 7cm diameter.
243g.
Provenance: English private collection.
£3,000-5,000
For a similar piece see Michel Maucuer, Bronzes de la Chine impériale des Song aux Qing, 2013, cat no 80, p 130 [left].
| ANIMAL CENSERS (lots 82-84) | |
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A PARCEL-GILT 'DUCK' INCENSE BURNER AND COVER.
Ming Dynasty, 17th Century.
Standing on webbed feet, the head raised to the left and the mouth open, the cover set into the feathered back, with gilt covering the head, neck and back, wood stand, carved and pierced as lotus plants. (3)
44cm H.
615g.
£3,000-5,000
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A MINIATURE BRONZE 'LUDUAN' INCENSE BURNER.
Ming Dynasty.
Standing foursquare, the hinged head forming the cover, with head raised and mouth open for the release of smoke.
5.5cm H.
72g.
£200-300
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A PARCEL-GILT BRONZE 'QILIN' INCENSE BURNER.
Ming Dynasty.
Seated with the front right foot forward and the others tucked under the body, the head raised and curling tail pointing skyward, the body with incised scales and flames emerging from behind the front of each leg highlighted in gilt.
14cm H, 20cm long.
997g.
£400-600
| CHANNELING NATURE: CENSERS FORMED AS FRUIT AND FLORA (lots 85-88) | |
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A BRONZE 'PEACH' INCENSE BURNER AND COVER.
Qing Dynasty.
Cast in the form of a hollow peach issuing from a leafy branch, the circular pierced cover cast with further smaller peaches and leaves borne on thin twigs, wood stand. (3)
15cm H.
1.2kg.
£500-800
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A PARCEL-GILT 'PUMPKIN AND SQUIRRELS INCENSE BURNER.
17th Century.
The body of the censer and the cover forming the hexalobed fruit, supported on tall tripod legs, the top with three pierced cash-form holes for the release of smoke, a leafy vine emanating from the top of the cover, and two squirrels clambering over the surface naturalistically modelled in relief. (2)
17cm H.
2.1kg.
£2,000-3,000
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A BRONZE 'BAMBOO' INCENSE BURNER.
17th Century.
The cylindrical body formed as a bamboo stem with two nodular sections, supported on tripod feet formed as looped bamboo branches, six character Xuande mark to base.
6.4cm H, 8.2cm diameter.
311g.
£500-800
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A LARGE BRONZE 'BAMBOO' INCENSE BURNER, COVER AND STAND.
Qing Dynasty.
Of rectangular form with, the four feet, handles and finial formed as bulging bamboo stems sprouting leaves, the cover and stand with pierced bamboo leaf decoration, yu tang qingwan mark to base, literally translated as 'for pure appreciation in the Jade Hall'. (3)
47.5cm H.
8.1kg.
£1,000-1,500
| BRONZES FROM A PORTUGUESE DIPLOMATIC COLLECTION FORMED IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY (lots 89-90) | |
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A BRONZE POURING VESSEL WITH DRAGON HEAD SPOUT.
16th-18th Century.
The low circular basin on a short tapering foot, with rounded sides and an in-turned rim, set with two panels with raised edges, enclosing an abstract pattern of swirling waves, the spout modelled as a dragon's head with bulging eyes and the raised mouth open, and opposite the S-shaped handle formed as the tail.
6.8cm H, 15.5cm diameter.
700g.
Provenance: Portuguese Diplomatic Collection, acquired in the first half of the 20th Century, reputedly as a gift from the Empress Dowager Cixi.
£3,000-5,000
For a related vessel see Paul Moss, Escape from the Dusty World: Chinese Paintings and Literati Works of Art, 1999, p 360, cat no 111, also published in Philip Hu, Later Chinese Bronzes: the Saint Louis Art Museum and Robert E Kresko, 2008, p 67, cat no 11 [below].
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A BRONZE BELL, BO ZHONG.
Song Dynasty.
Of elliptical section, each side cast with a trapezoidal panel flanked by rows of circles alternating with rows of dense interlaced scrolls, all within raised borders above a large gu panel of further interlaced scrolls.
22.5cm H.
1.209kg
Provenance: Portuguese Diplomatic Collection, acquired in the first half of the 20th Century, reputedly as a gift from the Empress Dowager Cixi.
£3,000-5,000
| KANGXI BRONZES (lots 91-93) | |
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A BRONZE 'DRAGON' INCENSE BURNER.
Qing Dynasty, Kangxi era.
The globular body supported on three conical feet and rising to a lipped rim, the sides cast in relief with three dragons each grasping for a flaming pearl, below a finely cast leiwen and ruyi head band below the rim, the shoulders set with three barrel form lug handles, the base with a six-character apocryphal Xuande mark within a recessed panel.
17.5cm H.
3kg.
£5,000-8,000
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A PAIR OF BRONZE 'PLUM BLOSSOM' VASES
Qing Dynasty, Kangxi era.
Cast with a pear-shaped body rising from an integrally cast hexagonal stand and supported on six feet, the waisted neck enclosing a single horizontal rib, and set with a pair of loop handles, the body set with flowering plum tree branches moulded in relief. (2)
22cm H.
1.2kg.
£1,500-2,000
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A PARCEL-GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A LUOHAN.
Qing Dynasty, Kangxi era.
Seated with the legs crossed and the left knee raised to support the hand, dressed in loose fitting robes with incised and gilded hems.
7.5cm H.
£400-600
The form of the present piece closely resembles soapstone figures of the Kangxi period.
| QIANLONG BRONZES (lots 94-96) | |
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A BRONZE GUI.
Qing Dynasty, Qianlong mark and of the period.
The compressed globular body cast with geometric patterns above stepped horizontal bands on a waisted midsection supported on a domed base, set to each side by a mythical beast head mask issuing loop handles, six character Qianlong mark to base.
14.5cm H, 29cm long.
4.5kg.
£4,000-6,000
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A BRONZE FOOD VESSEL, DOU.
Qing Dynasty, Qianlong mark and of the period.
The broad cylindrical bowl raised on a knopped spreading stem, cast around the exterior with archaistic geometric motifs, the foot with a six character Qianlong mark.
17.5cm H, 16cm diameter.
3.45g.
£3,000-5,000
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A BRONZE JUE.
Qing Dynasty, Qianlong san nian mark and of the period, 1738.
Of archaistic jue form, the deep 'U'-shaped body raised on three splayed legs of triangular section tapering downwards towards the feet, the broad mouth surmounted by a pair of capped posts, the main body decorated with three leiwen bands, the underside of the rim inscribed Qianlong san nian jidan zhi.
16cm H, 6.5cm diameter.
647g.
£600-800
For a similar piece dated to the same year see Michel Maucuer, Bronzes de la Chine impériale des Song aux Qing, 2013, cat no 4, p 36 [left].
| CENSERS WITH INCISED DECORATION FROM THE LATE QING (lots 97-99) | |
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A BRONZE 'DRAGON AND PHOENIX' CENSER.
Qing Dynasty.
The rounded body on a cylindrical foot and slightly tapering rim, incised with confronting dragon and phoenix among scrolling clouds, six character Xuande mark to base.
8cm H, 20cm diameter.
1.25kg.
£800-1,200
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AN INCISED BRONZE TRIPOD LOOP HANDLED INCENSE BURNER.
Late Qing Dynasty.
Supported on conical feet, the body incised with peonies, phoenixes and Buddhist lion dogs, yu tang qingwan mark to base, literally translated as 'for pure appreciation in the Jade Hall', 19.3cm diameter.
3.6kg.
£500-800
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A LARGE INCISED BRONZE INCENSE BURNER AND STAND, GUI.
Qing Dynasty.
Of archaistic gui form, the gently rounded body supported on a short splayed foot, flanked by a pair of loop handles, incised to the body with a figurative garden scene, with a leiwen band encircling the foot, the base with a recessed rectangular panel enclosing a six character Da Tang Zhending nian zhi, encircling by incised flying dragons, the stand with stepped tripod feet, the interior of the stand with a recessed circular panel with an incised front-facing coiled dragon above waves, within a band of further dragons. (2)
17cm H, 31cm diameter; the stand 8cm H, 33.5cm diameter.
18.46kg.
£3,000-5,000
| CHINESE AND JAPANESE BRONZES FROM A FRENCH PRIVATE COLLECTION (lots 100-111) | |
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TWO BRONZE TOOL VASES.
Qing Dynasty.
One of pear-shaped form with integral stand, the shoulders set handles formed as plum flowers. (2)
12cm H; 15cm H.
328g; 394g.
£500-800
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