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Hi All,

Heavy and finely decorated with a variety of punches and chasing, cloud scrolls and two writhing dragons in battle with a lotus plant(?) between them fill up the top section. The "Fu"
character is at the center surrounded by rings filled with a variety of geometric shapes made with punches.
The rings that go around the inside perimeter show varying widths and depths in their make-up at different points in each circle.

the brass has a golden yellow tone, showing a higher copper content than for example more common yellow brass.
hand wrought, the bowl shows varying widths of the metal going around the top perimeter at the opening. the height varies from about 2 7/8" ; 7.3 cm to 3 1/4"; 8.3 cm

when tapped lightly, the metal makes the sound of a loud bell

Diam at the opening: 13", 33 cm

Hoping an expert might be able to explain the writing style used for the "fu" character, and if that style was favored for a particular period or reign.

Thank you for looking

Kind regards

Kevin

two more close-ups focusing on the detail at the center. these geometric patterns inside of the three rings show more detail and better definition than what has been found on later 19th-century bowls of this same theme, A New Year's incense dish. Sometimes the geometric patterns of the later examples might only fill two rings, rather than three as shown here, and with less clarity to the smallest detail of the dots inside the scrolls and triangles, etc

The height of these shapes at the center is approximately 9/32", 7.1 mm


adding the overall weight as well:
3lbs 5oz; 1.51kgs

the link below is to a Ming incense burner which is on view at the Met Museum in Manhattan, NY. The display narrative draws attention to the two dragons and a central blossoming peony which matches the design of the flower in the current example, resolving then the question brought up earlier on flower type.
In Chinese culture, the peony is a symbol of wealth and good luck

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/42193

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