Opinion: While at first glance the form and archaistic decoration on the present censer indicates that it was made in the 17^th or 18^th century, the remarkably massive casting and especially the imposing loop handles with their distinct dragon heads and upturned snouts, a rare detail not found in later Ming and Qing censers, suggest a much earlier date. Also, it must nowadays be considered a small miracle to find such a nice incense burner that still retains an ‘original’ jade finial from the Yuan dynasty!

China, 14th-16th century. Of slightly flattened form, the archaistic incense burner decorated on each side with a central band showing a taotie mask and mythical beasts in relief against a key-fret ground, the design repeated on the band at the foot, flanked by two dragon heads with distinct upturned snouts issuing loop handles.

The domed hardwood cover pierced with four shaped reserves enclosing stylized flowers, finely carved and with a naturally grown patina, dating from the Qing dynasty.

The jade finial dates from the Yuan dynasty and is neatly carved and incised with an egret under a lotus leaf, finely executed in openwork, the stone of a pale celadon tone with russet inclusions and a fine polish overall.

Provenance: From a private collection in New England, USA.
Condition: The censer with an even and dark natural patina, minor old wear and some casting flaws, few minuscule drilled holes, minor nicks and shallow surface scratches, a small loss with associated old fill and touchups to one handle. The cover with age cracks, few nicks and scratches. The jade finial with minor nicks and losses here and there, some soiling, as well as natural inclusions and fissures which over the centuries have developed into microscopic hairline cracks.

Weight: 3,022 g
Dimensions: Length 28.5 cm, Height 22.1 cm (incl. cover and finial)

Literature comparison:
For a related bronze censer with jade finial and wood cover see Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, vol. 80, 2015-16, fig. 5b.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Remotely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 24 March 2018, lot 1783
Price: USD 7,500 or approx. EUR 8,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Large Bronze Tripod Censer Qing Dynasty, 17th / 18th Century
Expert remark: Compare the combination of bronze incense burner, wood cover and jade finial. Note the censer is of a later date than the present lot and of larger size (35.8 cm).



元至明簋形銅爐
中國，十四至十六世紀。仿古香爐造型略扁，雷紋地饕餮紋，龍頭雙耳。

專家注釋：乍一看，這件香爐的造型和仿古裝飾表明它是在 十七至十八世紀製造的，但其巨大的形體，尤其是極有氣勢的環柄，龍頭上翹，鼻尖上翹，這是一個十分少見的細節。如今能找到這麼好的香爐，還保留著元代的原始玉爐頂，也算是個小奇蹟吧！

圓頂硬木爐蓋鏤雕花卉紋，雕刻精美，自然包漿，可追溯至清代。

玉爐頂為元代，精雕細刻，鏤空雕刻荷葉下白鷺，淡青色玉料，內含赤褐色紋理，表面瑩潤。

來源：美國新英格蘭地區私人收藏。
品相：香爐具有均勻和深色的自然包漿，輕微磨損和一些鑄造缺陷，少量輕微鑽孔，輕微刻痕和表面淺劃痕，舊時填充和一個耳環的修補及相應小缺損。封面有年代久遠的裂縫，幾乎沒有劃痕。玉爐頂有輕微的刻痕和缺損，有一些污漬，還有天然的内沁和裂縫，幾個世紀以來已經發展成細微的細裂縫。

重量：3,022 克
尺寸：長 28.5 厘米, 高22.1 厘米 (含玉爐頂)

文獻比較：
一件相近的銅爐，也有玉爐頂和圓頂硬木爐蓋，見《Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society》，卷80，2015-2016年，圖5b。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：稍微相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2018年3月24日，lot 1783
價格：USD 7,500（相當於今日EUR 8,200）
描述：十七或十八世紀清代大型三足銅爐
專家評論：比較一下銅爐、硬木爐蓋和玉爐頂的組合。請注意，此爐的年代比現拍品晚，而且尺寸更大 (35.8 厘米)。