Published & Exhibited: Gerard Hawthorn, Oriental Works of Art, London, Spring 2006, no. 8.

China, late 16th-early 17th century. Finely cast, the compressed body supported on a tall, slightly flared foot and surmounted by a broad waisted neck with everted rim. The separately cast handles in the form of self-consuming taotie.

Richly chased in relief and gilded against a dark ground on each side with a central band enclosing ten whimsical mythical creatures including a Buddhist lion, dragons, qilin, and a longma interspersed with flying birds amid neatly incised waves above foaming crests, all framed by a band of interlinked stylized foliage below the rim and a band of lotus scroll encircling the foot reserved against ring-punched grounds. The base is chiseled with the six-character Hu Wenming mark in a vertical rectangular gilt reserve.

Inscriptions: To the base, 'Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi' ('made by Hu Wenming of Yunjian')

Provenance: Gerard Hawthorn, London, 2006. The Finer Collection, acquired from the above. The base with a paper label from the Finer Collection inscribed with the inventory number 'CB 5'. Gerard Hawthorn joined Sydney L. Moss Ltd in 1963 and later became an independent art dealer, assisting the world's leading collectors and museums in acquiring rare Chinese antiques. Additionally, he formed his own collection of Chinese art, especially Yixing stoneware, which before their sale in November 2011 was regarded as one of the world's greatest and most distinguished collections of Yixing wares by a single owner. Gerard Hawthorn is also the author of the catalog series 'Oriental Works of Art', which features fine works of art from China, Japan, and Korea. Ian Finer is a London-based Chartered Accountant whose professional work advising clients in the antiques trade fostered a deep personal engagement with Asian art. Over several decades, he assembled a highly regarded private collection of Chinese bronzes and porcelains. At its core were refined works, notably by the famed metalworker Hu Wenming and other scholars' studio pieces. Finer's collection, which he carefully curated from important auction houses, collectors, and dealers, was recognized for its museum-quality breadth and scholarly focus.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, casting irregularities, and old traces of use. Expected rubbing and minor losses to gilt. Scattered small nicks, light scratches, and minute dents. The interior with minor verdigris. The bronze with a fine, naturally grown, dark patina. The gilt exceptionally well preserved!

Weight: 1 kg
Dimensions: Length 24 cm (across the handles)

Hu Wenming (active c. 1573-1620) is one of the most renowned metalworkers in Chinese history and one of the few whose name and style are discussed in Chinese art-historical writing. Originally from Yunjian (present-day Songjiang near Shanghai), he became one of the most accomplished craftsmen of the late Ming dynasty. Most of the works attributed to Hu Wenming are scholarly objects, such as incense burners and brush pots, characterized by densely worked backgrounds covered with naturalistic and other motifs cast in high relief. His works frequently reinterpret archaic bronze forms with refined late-Ming ornamentation, such as ring-punched grounds, scrolling foliage, mythical beasts, and wave patterns. His work was highly regarded by the educated elite in the Jiangnan region (lower Yangzi delta). Many surviving pieces, like the present lot, bear his six-character seal-script mark 'Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi', indicating workshop pride. His works are held in major museum collections and frequently cited as benchmarks of Ming dynasty metalwork.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related parcel-gilt bronze censer by Hu Wenming, in the Shanghai Museum.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3946
Price: HKD 475,000 or approx. EUR 77,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A finely cast parcel-gilt bronze two-handled censer, Ming dynasty, 16th/17th century, Gui, Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi seal
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, gilt and chased decoration, motifs, and Hu Wenming mark. Note the smaller size (19 cm).