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Subject:Re: Bronze censer six character mark
Posted By: Bill H Wed, Dec 05, 2018
The mark reads from the top right down and across as "Made during the Xuande reign of the Great Ming Dynasty (大明宣徳年製 - Da Ming Xuan de Nian Zhi). Fine bronzes of the Xuande Reign (1426-1435) are among the more collectible and costly ever made in China.
The mark, foot and other features on this censer are crisp and free of signs of age from use. It also seems the side walls have been at least partially polished recently, which could have annihilated important clues needed to evaluate the age of cast metal items such as this. Based on the exterior surface in present condition, I'd guess this piece to be no older than third quarter, 20th century, if not later, though the motif itself is timeless in such censers.
Best regards,
Bill H.
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