A RARE GILT-BRONZE 'MULE' CENSER AND COVER, MING DYNASTY

A RARE GILT-BRONZE 'MULE' CENSER AND COVER, MING DYNASTY Exhibited: On loan to the Museum of East Asian Art, Berlin, 2001-2004. China, 16th-17th century. Finely cast standing foursquare with the head lowered and the legs slightly bent, the back with a separately cast, fitted saddle pierced with a trefoil aperture and saddle cloth, both neatly incised with stylized ruyi heads. Provenance: Galerie Tseng Tung-fa, Stuttgart, Germany. A German private collection, by repute acquired from the above. On loan to the Museum of East Asian Art, Berlin, 2001-2004. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting irregularities, few tiny nicks, remnants of varnish. The bronze with a fine, naturally grown, dark patina. Weight: 1,151 g Dimensions: Length 22 cm Expert’s note: The well-cast and neatly incised saddle is removable and pierced for the incense smoke to rise, therefore it is impossible that there was an accompanying figure to this censer. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3951 Price: HKD 125,000 or approx. EUR 21,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare Ming parcel-gilt bronze 'mule' censer, Wanli period (1573-1619) Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, pose, pierced saddle, and size (20 cm).