Chinese Silver Wired Bronze Incense Burner Marked Shi Sou

Description

A heavy round bronze incense burner with archaistic handles and inlaid with silver wires to form designs of clouds. It has the apocryphal signature of the renowned bronze artist, Shi Sou.
The censor is quite heavy for its size. The archaistic handles have circle decorations crafted from inlaid silver wires. The designs are well done and very fluid. The patina is a rich, dark, shiny brown patina that shows age. The ends of the pointed feet show a gold color where they have worn. The mouth rim is flat. The interior shows use from burning incense.
There is the two character mark in silver inlay on the base that reads Shi Sou. He was a famous bronze artist who was active in the 17th century. This mark is honorary. The censer was likely made in the late Qing Period, c 1900.
MEASUREMENTS
5 ½” (14 cm) wide x 3 3/4” (9.5 com) diameter x 3 1/8” (7.9 cm) tall. Weighs 13 oz (400 g)
CONDITION
The mouth rim shows small nicks and abrasions from usage. There is silver wire loss on the one side of the body. The censer has a nice dark brown aged patina and has not been over cleaned. There are a couple of dark spots on one side near the foot that are difficult to discern in room light. In fact we didn’t even see them until we reviewed the photographs closely.
A nice dark aged censer with artistic elements that has a good mark. Just the right size for the scholars desk.
ITEM
: A-2395
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