A VERY LARGE GILT-SPLASHED BRONZE CENSER, 17TH-18TH CENTURY China. Heavily cast, of compressed globular form below a lipped rim set with two loop handles all supported on three short tapering feet, the exterior densely embellished with irregular gilt splashes, the base cast with a four-character mark.

Inscriptions: To base, 'dan er bu yan' (simple but desirable).

Provenance: From the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Brunscheen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA, and thence by descent in the same family.
Condition: The censer is presenting extraordinary well. Some old wear and minor casting flaws, one handle bent downwards with associated minuscule cracks, the base somewhat warped, few dents and small nicks, the gilt-splashes spectacularly well-preserved. Superb, naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 6,167 g
Dimensions: Diameter 34 cm

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 15 September 2015, lot 233
Price: USD 47,500 or approx. EUR 58,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large gilt-splashed bronze censer, 17th / 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the near-identical form, size and decoration, the censer cast with the same rare mark as the present lot. Note the much more extensive wear to the gilt-splashes when compared to the present lot.


十七至十八世紀大型灑金銅爐
中國。爐身厚重，圓口，束頸，上出雙耳，大小勻稱，腹肥微垂，底落三乳丁足，整器通體灑金為飾，金點斑駁，金片大小錯落有致，色澤富貴艷麗。底部有四字款。

款識：淡而不厭

來源：Scott Brunscheen夫婦收藏，美國 愛阿華州 東部林縣 錫達拉皮兹，保存在同一家族至今。
品相：狀況極好，一些磨損和輕微的鑄造缺陷，一耳向下彎曲並有微小的裂縫，底座有些翹曲，少量凹痕和小缺口，灑金保存極好。整體上極好的、自然生長的包漿。

重量：6,167 克
尺寸：直徑34 厘米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2015年9月15日，lot 233
價格：USD 47,500（相當於今日EUR 58,500）
描述：十七至十八世紀銅灑金橋耳三足大爐 《淡而不厭》款
專家評論：比較幾乎相同的外型、尺寸和裝飾，甚至有相同的罕見款識。請注意此爐的灑金磨損面積較大。