A fine Chinese bronze vase with lion handles, Xuande mark to the bottom. Qing dynasty, 17th century. The squat body resting on a spreading foot, with two finely-cast leonine mask handles applied to the shoulder and up the thin tall cylindrical neck rising to a trumpet-shaped mouth, the surface of the bronze with a warm patina, the base with a recessed rectangle containing an apocryphal six-character mark Da Ming Xuande Nian Zhi. Ref: Compare with a similar example but with gilt-splashed decoration, Sotheby's, New York, Mar 20, 2012, lot 82. Also compare with a small bronze censer with similar beast mask handles: Sotheby's, London, Jun 18, 2019, lot 12. Dimensions: Height 17.5 cm, diameter 11.5 cm. Condition: Good condition with a hardly visible dent to the body. Worldwide registered and insured shipping.