Chinese Qing Dynasty Bronze Temple Censer with Guardian Lion

A large Chinese bronze temple censer, Qing dynasty (1644-1912),…
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A large Chinese bronze temple censer, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), 19th century, of bombe form with tripod legs, the openwork cover surmounted by a Buddhist guardian lion, the sides decorated in high relief with a dragon, two phoenixes and a Qilin, the base with in inset six-character seal in seal script. 76 cm high, 38 cm diameter, condition: part of the lion's tail broken (broken piece is sold together with the censer). The two handles are missing. One phoenix head is missing.

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  • Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
  • Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.

    The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.

    It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
  • Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.

  • Kylin or Qilin - A kylin or qilin is a mythical Chinese animal, dating back to the 5th century with the head of a dragon, the body of a deer and the tail of a lion. It is a regarded as a good omen bringing serenity and prosperity, and is said to appear with the coming or departure of a wise sage or illustrious ruler.

    It is also part of the culture of Korea and Japan.

    As well as being represented in bronze and jade, it is also used as a decorative motif on ceramics.

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