A Chinese 17th Century Dehua / Blanc de Chine Porcelain Lion-Mask Censer (Ex. Museum). On opposing sides of the body are two moulded lion-masks. It is coated in a finely-crackled ivory coloured glaze apart from the inner surface and flat base that remain unglazed. Diameter 13.5 cm. Dehua kilns, Fujian province. 17th century (c. 1650 - 1700). Provenance: this censer bears a museum inventory number “B.R. 8-1944” and an old paper label stating “Chinese Chun Tea Bowl - Sung AD 960 – 1279”. 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. Note: This lot was bid on by a fraudulent buyer in our previous sale, the sale was cancelled.