A RARE BRONZE TRIPOD INCENSE BURNERZhengde sixteen-character mark, Ming DynastyHeavily cast withpressed rounded sides rising from three cabriole legs to a pair of C-shaped handles, the underside with a recessed rectangular cartouche enclosing a Zhengde sixteen-character inscription inkaishu, patinated to a rich chocolate-brown tone.23.9cm (9 3/8in) wideProvenance: 明 銅朝冠耳三足爐陽文「大明正德八年歲次癸酉五月吉日鑄造」楷書款The present lot is particularly rare for the pair of C-shaped handles, which is also known as chaoguan er (Official's hat handle 朝冠耳). Incense burners of this form were associated with status of the elite gentry in Chinese society during the Xuande period (1426-1435), where they were distributed as gifts by the Xuande Emperor to Zhanshi fu (the Household Administration of the Heir Apparent 詹事府), Hanlin yuan (The Hanlin Academy 翰林院), and other important institutions. See a bronze censer of similar form illustrated in a line drawing in Xuande yiqi tupu (Illustrated Catalogue of Ritual Vessels of the Xuande Period), vol.14, p.7. Therefore, the present lot also represents the auspiciousness of success to the Imperial exams and promotion to the rank of official.See an example of a late Ming gold-splashed bronze tripod incense burner with C-shaped handles, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 October 2019, lot 3652. Incense burners of this form can also be found in porcelain and cloisonné enamel wares, see for example a blue and white incense burner from the Zhengde period, Ming dynasty, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 27 November 2020, lot 425; and a cloisonné enamel example sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 28 November 2018, lot 539.此朝冠耳爐因其雙耳形似古代官帽上的雙翅耳而得名。此爐造型渾圓豐腴，平口，肩兩側對稱出雙朝冠耳，底承三足，敦實有力，底落「大明正德八年歲次癸酉五月吉日鑄造」十六字楷書款。整體造型端莊規整，線條優美，置於書房案桌上，極具文雅氣息。朝冠耳爐仿南宋鑄銅器名家姜娘子製器的款式，自宋代以來開始成為銅爐的經典器型，此樣式亦見於《宣德彝器圖譜》。宣德年間，皇帝將此式樣爐賜給詹事府、翰林院及國子監等十位主事臣，有「加官進爵」的吉祥寓意。此樣式的銅爐相對較為少見，參考一件晚明銅灑金三足爐，售於香港蘇富比，2019年10月8日，拍品3652。同造型香爐亦見於瓷器及掐絲琺瑯器，對比一件明正德青花三足爐，售於ཛྷ...