A rare Chinese bronze cylindrical tripod censer with Arabic inscription, Zhengde mark and of the period

H.: 8 cm - Dia.: 10 cm

Weight: 1084 grams

Bronze censers decorated with Arabic inscriptions came to influence the making of a distinctive group of heavily potted blue and white porcelains, all bearing Zhengde imperial marks on the bases and the body decorated with Arabic or Persian inscriptions. Jessica Harrison-Hall in Ming Porcelain in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 188, notes that it is possible that these wares 'were used by literate Muslim eunuchs at court or by the emperor, who was fascinated by foreign scripts.' For examples of blue-and-white wares with Arabic or Persian inscription in the British Museum see ibid., pls. 8:3-8:11, including an incense burner (8:11) with six roundels each bearing an Arabic phrase. 

Two ceramic censers of this shape, also with Arabic inscriptions in panels are illustrated in Kaikodo Journal, XXIV. Material Witness, New York, 2008, p. 166, where it is explained that the form derives from Han period prototypes known as zun or lian which were used for containing wine. 

Provenance:
- A Belgian private collection.
- Acquired from Galerie Lamy, Brussels, in 2014, accompanied by their certificate of authenticity. (as visible on the Alain Truong blog - link)
- A Dutch private collection, before 2010.

Ref.:
- Sotheby's, New York, March 15, 2017, lot 561, for a similar example with a continuous text band. (sold USD 112.500) (link)
- Sotheby's, Hong Kong, April 3, 2012, lot 143, for a very closely related example. (sold HKD 800.000) (link)

Condition: (UV-checked)
- Excellent, with some normal wear, superficial dents and nice patination.

品相：（已用紫外线光检查）
- 全品，正常磨损，几处典型轻微凹痕，包浆自然。