920 - Bronze Incense Burner

Bronze Incense Burner China, Qing Dynasty, probably 19th century. Bronze, with a brown patina. H. 7.1 cm. Diameter at the mouth: 9.8 cm. Weight: 691 g. With 2 handles and 3 feet. The base bears four Chinese characters: Shigu Zhibao (A precious treasure passed down through generations). Signs of age and wear. The body has a scratch and a small scuffed area. Markings such as “Shigu Zhibao” were also used on later Chinese decorative bronzes and enamel works. Therefore, a piece bearing this mark may have been created significantly later than the ancient models on which it is based. In fact, a documented bronze object bearing the same mark was dated by Christie’s to the 18th century.