This incense burner is cast bronze in a bombe form, having a brownish patina with small patches of verdigris. The base is caste with a six-character Xuande mark (though not of the period). The interior shows evidence of long use and has some areas of verdigris. It is set on a flaring footring which echoes its rather thick flaring lip. There is evidence of wear and use and some tiny nicks to one handle. It is in generally good condition. Purchased in London in 1978.

Height: 3 3/8 in., Width: 8 ¾ in. over handles

This pear-form vase, with two tubular handles, is set upon a tall, flaring base. A paired dragon motif in low relief wraps around the lower body and a geometric design surrounds the middle neck and handles. A stylized design including ruyi and other elements surround the upper portion of the flaring base. The mouth flares, trumpet like, and is topped with a flat flange. The surface appears to be original, with remnants of a worn, blackish lacquer coating over a dark brown patina where exposed. The base was possibly repaired or replaced at some point. Other than minor repairs or touchups around the foot, the condition is very good considering the age. Purchased in the early 1970s in North Carolina.

Height: 7 7/8 in., Diameter: 2 ¾ in.

This incense-burner was cast with Mongolian script encircling body and has two handles with lion masks. It is raised on a slightly flaring footring and a slightly convex base showing wear and an old original surface with a mottled brown patina. The Bombay form rises to end in a flattened rim displaying evidence of long, continued use. The grayish-bronze interior shows its use as an incense burner. An old crack is visible to the head of one handle.

Width: 5 in. across handles, Height: 2 5/8 in., Weight: 302 grams exactly, about 10 ½ oz.

This incense-burner was originally lacquered a reddish brown tone with traces remaining, and has small areas of verdigris on the base and handles. The interior has some verdigris and encrusted ash. The base is cast in the center with an archaistic style six-character Xuande mark. The overall surface is darkened and has worn unevenly from age and use. A design of two opposing phoenix birds wraps around the body in shallow incising work. Overall good condition. Acquired in England in the 1970s.

Diameter: 3 7/8 in., Height: 3 in., Weight: 467 grams exactly, about 1 pound.

This incense-burner has a flaring rim form raised on three ogee feet and has its original patina and considerable carbon incrustation from many years of use. Two lion's head handles embellish the body and the cast Da Ming Xuande mark is centered on the base. The interior is darkened from use and the exterior shows small areas of darkened bronze where not obscured by blackish patina. There is a slight dent to the rim. The condition overall is very good. Purchased at auction in North Carolina from the estate of a diplomat who acquired it in Japan in the 1950s.

Diameter: 4 7/8 in., Height: 2 7/8 in., Weight: 423 grams exactly, about 15 ounces.

This incense-burner is well-cast in coppery bronze with raised carved handles attached. The mouth rim flares out from the straight raised neck. The neck rises from a rounded shoulder, the sides of which taper downward to four graceful feet. It has a fairly even brown patina overall with a few darker specks and evidence of long-term use. The interior is encrusted with incense residue. Good condition.

Height: 2 7/8 in., Width: 3 1/8 in., Depth: 2 in., Weight: 267 grams, about 9 1/2 ounces.

The stand and bowl of this vessel were cast separately and permanently joined at the time of production. The lid is topped with a lingzhi fungus. The entire piece is covered in an old brownish patina and small areas of verdigris. The lid fits very well into the grooved rim of the bowl. The lingzhi is cast as part of the lid, and has some areas of orange-ish patina. The interior of the stand is dark gray with some verdigris and the bowl interior is also a grayish tone. There are some nicks and a small dent on the lid rim that is not visible from the outside. No markings noted. Generally very good condition.

Height: 7 3/4 in., Diameter: 3 3/8 in., Weight: 900 grams exactly, about 2 pounds.

Having a single bail handle, the reticulated lid fits snugly and is very well cut with a design of geometric and floral patterns. The patina is of a warm, silvery tone showing the expected evidence of use and wear.

Diameter: 7 in., Height: 4 in.

With an unusual European form, this oblong bowl with lid is decorated overall with a flower and butterfly design in shaded enamels on a white ground with an ultra marine blue secondary ground, as a banding around the lid and as a surround for the two flower cartouches on the bowl's exterior. A small turquoise band encircles the base of the bowl which rests on a flared foot. The interiors of both the lid and bowl are covered in a speckled, medium green enamel. The exposed metals rims are all gilded, though the exterior rims are somewhat rubbed and dulled. The interior metal retains its brilliant gold surface. The base is enameled white. Very good condition.

Length: 4 5/8 in., Height with lid: 2 7/8 in.

The pendant is formed from sheet silver with a repousse design of a man riding a fu lion amid a floral background on one side and the other side with Chinese characters surrounded by flowers. The work is very well-executed in high relief and minute detail. The chain is fashioned from round soldered links suspended from which there are two bells on smaller chains. The bells are of spherical form and are covered with incising. On the side of the pendant, there is a small slot presumably for a key that is now missing. The pendant is not a functioning lock, however. The condition is very good overall, though there is oxidation clearly evident from being in its original, unpolished state.

Pendant width: 3 in.; Height: 2 ¼ in.; Thickness: ½ in.; Chain length: 14 ½ in.

This oval repousse box with a well-executed peony design on a hinged lid opens to a beveled mirror and case with three separate compartments covered by a single silver lid with a floral-form knop. The sides are incised with a continuing floral design and the base is impressed in the center with a Chinese character hallmark. The repousse on the lid is very well-worked against a fine punched background. There is some wear and a few surface scratches and residue from an old label on the base. The overall condition, however, is very good. This is an unusual form for Chinese export silver and was perhaps intended for the Western market.

Height: 1 ¼ in.; Length: 5 ¼ in.; Width: 3 ¾ in.

This finely cast figure, seated in vajrasana or lotus position on a double lotus base, holds in the left hand a stem of lotus with the right middle finger touching the thumb. The flowing robe is open at the chest and drapes over the right shoulder. The borders and lower portions of the robe are incised with scrolling floral motifs. The facial features with slight downcast eyes are crisply rendered and the hair is well-defined. Attached to the back of the figure is a flaming mandorla which is possibly not original to the figure. The base is sealed with a bronze plate. The figure has an attractive dark brown patina with faint patches of verdigris. Very good casting with only a few minor nicks, and generally in very good condition.

Height: 6 ¾ in.; Width: 3 5/8 in.

These two vases were mostly part of an altar set that included an incense burner and circular box, all in cast bronze and having similar Koranic inscriptions. The vases are heavily cast as are most of these types of inscribed utensils. The calligraphy is raised from the background and is framed by a lobed cartouche surrounding a ring-punched background that helps to accentuate the inscription. The punched background was probably lacquered a dark brown or black originally and some traces appear to remain. The vases are well-cast and finely finished with concentric bands enhancing both the mouth rims and foot rims. A key-fret band is incised around the upper necks below the mouth rims. The exteriors exhibit a brownish, blackish patina and light patches of verdigris. Bronzes with Arabic inscriptions such as these vases were probably not made for export, but rather to serve the needs of the Muslim community in China. Both vases are in very good condition.

Height: 5 7/8 in.; Width: 3 3/8 in.

Cast with flowing robe and benevolent facial expression. Stands upon a base cast in the form of sea waves surrounded by low a fence raised upon a hexagonal plinth. Figure and base were cast separately with the figure being attached to the base with two bronze pins. The figure was originally lacquered overall then gilded. Remains of this gilt lacquer can be seen especially in the creases of the robe and the hair around the edges of the hood. The figure is well-modeled, having subtle curve to the body and a flowing robe as if being blown by the wind. The sculpture exhibits evidence of its 450+ years; there are areas of light encrustation and verdigris on the base. The lacquer gilding is largely worn off. One of the fencepost finials is missing. There are minor casting flaws: a small hole in the lower garment original to the casting and flawed casting or loss of the left foot. There is also a small hole on the left wrist. The figure is somewhat loosely attached to the base, but is not removable. These issues are fairly typical with bronzes of this age and overall this is a graceful figure retaining its original patina.

Height: 8 ¼ in.; Width: 4 ¼ in. at widest point of base

Very heavy pear-form bronze vase stylized after ceramic vases of the same period, probably intended as a decoration in a scholar’s studio. Cast with a graceful qilong dragon wrapped around the body and neck with its bifurcated tail terminating on the upper neck of the vase and above the dragon’s head. The dragon’s features are well defined, including the single horn on top of its head, a hairy mane and goatee, and also a prominent backbone. The vase retains its original rich, deep brown patina from years of handling and use. Good condition, except for a small dent to the lower part as seen in one picture, and also small nicks due to its age.

Height: 6 5/8 in.