Incense burner - Bronze

Antique Chinese miniature bronze tripod incense burner, dating from the late Qing dynasty, approximately 1880 to 1910. This charming pocket-sized object, with compact dimensions of 3.5 by 5.3 by 5.3 centimeters and a solid weight of 90 grams, was historically designed as a travel hand warmer or for use on the study desk of a Chinese scholar. The burner is executed in the classic ding form with a globular body resting on three short legs and is topped with two elegant, upstanding lishandles.

The object is cast from solid bronze and has over the decades developed a beautiful, well-worn, deep dark and matte patina, with the bronze subtly showing through along the natural wear points on the edges. At the bottom is a four-character seal mark in a circle reading Da Qing Yu Zhi (大清御制), which stands for "Made on the orders of the Emperor of the Great Qing Dynasty." This is a historically accurate, apocryphal mark that bronze founders of the time applied as a tribute and status symbol.

The interior of the vessel is in a completely authentic and untouched state, complete with a layered buildup of black resin cake, soot traces and light ash residues that attest to intensive and long historical use. The lot is in excellent, original condition without restorations or structural defects to the legs or handles, and, due to the rare imperial stamp variation and honest signs of use, constitutes a particularly collectible object for enthusiasts of Asian art.

Dimensions: 3.5 x 5.3 x 5.3 cm
Weight: 90 g