A PAIR OF LARGE BRONZE ‘DRAGON’ CENSER AND COVERS, QING DYNASTY
China, 19th century. The body is well-cast with aquatic creatures against rolling waves, the sides set with a pair of upright chilong-form handles, all supported on cabriole legs issuing from monster masks terminating in paw feet. The reticulated cover is cast as a large, coiled dragon, its writhing body disappearing beneath swirling clouds only to resurface on the other side, the head forming the knop. The base with an archaistic inscription.

Each censer raised on a separately cast, matching openwork stand decorated with prunus blossoms. (6)


Provenance:
From an old private collection in Ireland.

Condition:
Good condition with expected old wear and some casting flaws, light scratches, minor losses, and small dents. Good and solid patina overall.

Weight: 8.5 kg (each)
Dimensions: Height 49 cm and 49.3 cm


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2016, lot 1359
Price: USD 43,750 or approx.
EUR 52,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze ‘dragon’ censer and cover, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and decoration. Note that this lot consists only of a single censer which also lacks the matching stand.




清代一對龍紋蓋爐

中國，十九世紀。 雙耳爐，四獸面紋腿，爐蓋上鏤空雕刻滾滾波浪中飛龍騰躍，如意祥雲紋。底座上刻有仿古銘文。

每個香爐均單獨鑄造，底座鏤空飾有花卉紋。(6)


來源：
愛爾蘭私人舊藏

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損和一些鑄造缺陷、輕微劃痕、缺損和小凹痕，整體包漿良好且堅實。

重量：各8.5公斤
尺寸：高 49 厘米與49.3 厘米


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2016年3月19日，lot 1359
價格：USD 43,750（相當於今日
EUR 52,000
）
描述：清十九世紀銅龍首蓋爐
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形和裝飾。請注意此僅由一個香爐組成，也沒有相應底座。