Measurements: Height 5.5" Width: 5.5" Antique Gilt bronze censer. Great gilt bronze ceremonial dragon censer. The body has wider flanged opening supported by an ovoid body. Thick potted, globular body, shrink on the neck, to wide flaring a circular opening, raised on shallow cornered like elephant leg. The main body carved by a gilt phoenixes flying among flaming pearl and auspicious pattern. The phoenix is such an important bird in Chinese symbolism that we have a separate section dedicated to it; it is put in the same section as dragons as the phoenix and dragon are paired, the dragon represents the Emperor and yang; the phoenix the Empress and yin. To use the name ‘phoenix’ is a bit misleading as there is no legend in China about reincarnation from ashes as there is about the Egyptian mythical bird . In China it was a god of the winds. The vermillion (red) phoenix represents the most important of directions - south. In symbolism the dragon and phoenix together represent a married couple. The phoenix alone is a symbol of joy and peace, it heralds the coming of auspicious days just like the qilin. The vessel has mottled green hues and a tinge of grayish-brown patina. Bronze is in gorgeous condition with minimal marring of the surface. The bronze is bright and lustrous as the light is easily reflected from the well-polished surfaces. The plaques split in the middle section, and fitted perfectly upon each other. There is a light grey patina noted in several creases. The bronze is very fine, with a brilliant glaze finish that was applied by a meticulous, the shape is uniformly proportioned.