California Asian Art Auction California Asian Art Auction
 March 9, 2019  March 9, 2019

 Lot # 6021 
A MASSIVE BRONZE INCISED ELEPHANT HANDLE CENSER    明 大型銅鏨刻人物故事圖紋象耳爐


  • Dimension: Height: 6 1/2 in (16.5 cm) Diameter: 16 2/8 in (41.0 cm)
  • Estimate From: $4500
  • Estimate To: $8500

Of bombé form supported on a short splayed foot, flanked by a pair of elephant handles, the bronze patinated to a warm ochre tone, finely incised around the body with two bands of shaped cartouche enclosing story scenes alternated by medallions enclosing auspicious character, the underside inscribed with a fifteen character mark in seal script. Ming Dynasty period.


Provenance: Private collection, Florida
此銅爐為敞口,平折沿,束頸,鼓腹下斂,肩頸部出雙像耳,其餘空白處鏨刻人物故事圖,圈足外撇,整器呈紅褐色,寶光內藴,給人以細膩柔嫩之感,尺寸數宣爐中標準器者,手感厚重,款識清晰,實為難得一見的佳作。宣德爐是指明代宣德皇帝在位時,從泰國進口一批風磨銅,責成宮廷禦匠呂震和工部侍郎吳邦佐,參照皇府內五大名窯的款式,精心製造,並挑選了金銀等幾十種貴重金屬與紅銅一起經過十多次的精心鑄煉,才使宣德爐成為中國古代銅香爐製作的巔峰之作。


來源:佛羅裡達州資深藏家提供