A Chinese 17th Century Dehua / Blanc de Chine Porcelain Lion-Mask Censer (Ex. Museum). Heavily-potted with two moulded lion-masks on opposing sides of the body. Coated in a finely-crackled ivory coloured glaze. Diameter 14.5 cm. Dehua kilns, Fujian province. 17th century (c. 1650 - 1700). Some of the glaze around the rim edge has flaked away and there is a small surface chip to the upper mouth edge, but there is no repair or restoration and it is good overall condition.

Provenance: this censer bears a museum inventory number “53-1944” and old paper labels stating “Chinese Chun Tea Bowl Sung AD 960 – 1279”. Its full number is actually “BR-53-1944”. This censer was part of The Brooke Robinson Collection of Asian Art formerly housed at Dudley Museum. Brooke Robinson (1836–1911) was a British Conservative Party politician, who was MP for Dudley and held a number of public posts including that of County Coroner for Dudley. He also was an art collector and benefactor whose legacy was the Town Hall and a museum in the town of Dudley. Brooke Robinson left a sum of money as well as his collection of art, furniture, ceramics, and other items for the benefit of the town of Dudley. The money was eventually used to construct the Town Hall, a Coroner's Court and a museum. The museum, known as the Brooke Robinson Museum, opened on 18 May 1931 with, as far as we can tell, the Trustees continuing to acquire pieces to add to the collection. It would appear that when added to the collection, there was little knowledge of such wares and so this censer was misattributed as a Chinese Song Dynasty Jun tea bowl!

Also from the collection of the late Brian Page (1938-2018), the well-known Oriental art and antiques dealer from Brighton.