A RECTANGULAR PARCEL-GILT BRONZE 'MYTHICAL BEAST' INCENSE BURNER AND COVER MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

of rectangular form, the cover topped with a crouching chilong forming the knop, surrounded by further dragons and phoenix emerging from reticulated scrolling clouds, the exterior of the incense burner similarly decorated in relief with dragons chasing 'flaming pearls' amidst trembling waves with conchs, flanked by a pair of mythical beast head handles, all raised on four corner feet and below a flaring mouthrim, the underside centred with a rectangular cartouche with a six-character apocryphal Xuande mark