A CHINESE BRONZE 'DRAGON' INCENSE BURNER

MING DYNASTY

The bombé-shaped body cast in relief with two dragons chasing each other through stylised ruyi-shaped clouds, with two handles formed as fantastical beast masks, all raised on a short flared foot, 19cm, 1.4kg.

Provenance: from a British private collection, purchased from Adrian Joseph of Allen Management in 1990.

Cf. P Moss & G Hawthorn, The Second Bronze Age: Later Chinese Metalwork, no.44 for a similar incense burner with comparable decoration; see also Christie's Hong Kong, 6th April 2016, lot 3664 for another related piece.