A HEAVILY CAST BRONZE TRIPOD CENSER, MING DYNASTY China, 1368-1644. The censer with a compressed globular body raised on three legs issuing from the mouths of horned mythical beasts and a pair of pierced s-shaped handles that flank the neck and flat, everted rim. The neck is finely incised with a circumferential leiwen pattern. Provenance: English private collection. Condition: Fair condition with minor wear, casting flaws, a ding to the body, the feet with recesses revealing slag from the casting procedure. Verdigris on the interior and the underside. Minimal losses, some nicks to edges. A piercing to the base has been closed with a metal plate. The handles are detachable and fixed with small modern wood pegs. Weight: 5.4 kg Dimensions: Diameter 30 cm handle to handle The base is incised with a Chinese inscription which is partly illegible. Austion result comparison: Compare with a related censer sold at Sotheby's New York in Important Chinese Art on 12 September 2018, lot 300, for USD $25,000 incl. buyer's premium. 銅獸面紋朝冠耳三足爐，明代 中國，1368-1644。香爐鼓腹，獸面三足，一對朝冠耳位於頸部。頸部雷紋裝飾帶。 來源：英國私人收藏 品相：品相良好，輕微磨損，鑄造缺陷。腳掌上有凹槽，露出了鑄造過程中產生的爐渣。 內部和底下有銅綠。 輕微缺損，邊緣有些划痕。 底座的穿孔已用金屬板封閉。手柄是可拆卸的，並用小型現代木釘固定。 重量：5.4 公斤 尺寸：耳至耳直徑 30 厘米 拍賣成果比較：一件相似三足爐2018年9月12日于紐約蘇富比《重要中國藝術》，拍號300，成交價USD $25,000 含買家佣金。