The Finer Collection of Bronzes and Hand Warmers

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THE FINER COLLECTION OF BRONZES & HAND WARMERS TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2025

THE FINER COLLECTION OF BRONZES & HAND WARMERS TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2025

woolleyandwallis.co.uk

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ASIAN ART SPECIALISTS & CONTACTS FOR THIS AUCTION

John Axford MRICS Head of Asian Art

Jeremy Morgan Asian Art

Alexandra Aguilar Japanese & Asian Art

Freya Yuan-Richards Chinese Paintings & Asian Art

+44 (0)1722 424506 jea@woolleys.live

+44 (0)7812 601098 jm@woolleys.live

+44 (0)1722 424583 aa@woolleys.live

+44 (0)1722 424589 fyr@woolleys.live

For general enquiries and condition reports, please email: asianart@woolleys.live Telephone: +44 (0)1722 424591 Olivia Jones Department Coordinator

Fahmeeda Yasmin Photography

@ Instagram: @woolleyandwallisasianart @woolleyandwallissalerooms Facebook: @woolleyandwallis Pinterest: Woolley and Wallis

Front Cover: lots Back Cover:

Salisbury Salerooms, 51-61 Castle Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 3SU Tel: +44 (0)1722 424500 www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk

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THE FINER COLLECTION OF BRONZES & HAND WARMERS TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2025

10.00AM

The sales to be conducted at our Castle Street Salerooms, SP1 3SU 預展將於Old Sarum展廳舉行 (如圖) ， 拍賣將於公司總部Castle Street舉行。

Viewing in London (highlights) 17 Clifford Street, 2nd Floor W1S 3RQ Saturday 1st November Sunday 2nd November Monday 3rd November

11.00am – 4.00pm 11.00am – 4.00pm 11.00am – 4.00pm

Viewing at our Old Sarum Galleries Unit 1B Castle Gate Business Park, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6QX Friday 7th November 10.00am – 5.00pm Saturday 8th November 10.00am – 1.00pm Monday 10th November 10.00am – 4.00pm

BUYER’S PREMIUM See paragraphs 4 & 5 of our conditions of business at www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk for additional charges on the final hammer prices. 本公司提供免費網上即時競投，請在11月10日中午12點之前登 錄bid.woolleyandwallis.co.uk登記競投賬戶。 注：所有網絡買家需要支付至少£5,000的保證金。 網上競投總金額的限額為£50,000。

Woolley & Wallis Old Sarum Galleries Unit 1B Castle Gate Business Park Old Sarum Salisbury SP4 6QX MARLBOROUGH & SWINDON

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Old Sarum

威立士網上競投 LIVE ONLINE BIDDING - FREE OF CHARGE bid.woolleyandwallis.co.uk Please register by 12 noon on Monday 10th November.

Online bidders may be required to pay a deposit of £5,000.

This deposit will allow the online bidder to bid up to a maximum of £50,000 in total at this auction.

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SPECIAL ASIAN ART NOTICES Restricted Bidding If you wish to bid in this auTtion you will need to register and provide proof of identity and of your address and provide photographic ID. You may be asked to pay a deposit of £5,000. Any deposit must be paid by debit card or bank transfer. Woolley and Wallis must have cleared funds no later than 12 noon on Monday 10th November. If you are not successful you will be refunded (without interest) within seven working days.

ONLINE BIDDERS MAY BE REQUIRED TO PAY A DEPOSIT OF £5,000.

THIS DEPOSIT WILL ALLOW THE ONLINE BIDDER TO BID UP TO A MAXIMUM OF £50,000 IN TOTAL AT THIS AUCTION. 網絡競投需向本公司支付£5000押金，網上競投總金額的限額為£50,000。 特別提示： 競拍者需憑本人護照領取競投號牌，並需預繳保證金£5000。 請閣下務必妥善保管拍賣號牌，請勿借予他人使用。 若他人使用其號牌競投相應拍品，競買者需承擔全部法律責任。 注：註冊拍賣截止時間為11月10日中午12點整。 Bank Transfers should be sent to: Lloyds Bank plc, Blue Boar Row, Salisbury SP1 1DB Account no. 00957707 Sort code 30-97-41 IBAN no. GB20LOYD30974100957707 BIC code LOYDGB21063 Condition of Lots Please note that the condition of lots is not stated in the catalogue descriptions. Reports on condition may be available on request. The absence of condition reports in the catalogue does not imply that the lot is free from imperfections or faults. 品相報告 競買人應於拍賣之前的預展中視察拍品。純為方便買家威立士可以在拍賣開始前提供品相報告，但未記載的 品相報告並不代表其品相完美，如果您有需要請聯繫我們咨訊相關信息。 Collection of lots by appointment only Please contact the department to arrange collection of lots. 提前預約提取拍品 提取拍品前，請先聯絡亞洲藝術部或客戶服務部預約安排提取拍品。 VAT Please note that due to the withdrawal of the Retail Export Scheme by HMRC, we are unable to provide VAT refund documentation (C88) for hand-carried exports.

In order to qualify for a VAT refund, your lots must be exported by a shipper and valid export documentation must be provided. 增值稅退稅 注：由於英國稅務海關總署（HMRC）已撤銷零售出口法案（Retail Export Scheme），本公司將無法提供 手持出口增值稅退稅文件（C88）機場退稅單。 若您慾退增值稅，您的拍品必須由貨運公司運送，並且必須由運輸公司提供有效的出口文件。

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See paragraphs 4 & 5 of our conditions of business for additional charges on the final hammer prices at www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk

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Ian and Philippa Finer 2025

Ian Finer’s passion for Chinese works of art began with porcelain, but as his family grew, so too did his collecting focus which shifted from delicate ceramics to the allure of Chinese bronzes. This change marked the beginning of a lifelong pursuit that would culminate in a deeply personal and scholarly collection.

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Ian Finer advised numerous clients in the antiques trade, particularly in Asian art, giving him privileged access to exceptional pieces and trusted sources. In 1980, he acquired his first Chinese bronze from Bert Bang in London, a formative purchase that sparked a lasting fascination. From then on, he dedicated himself to studying the field through the available literature and cultivating a connoisseur’s eye.

Over the years, Ian Finer assembled an impressive collection of bronzes, carefully sourced from London auction houses, specialist dealers, and later, across Europe, particularly in France and Germany.

At the heart of the collection lies the theme The Scholar’s Studio, with a particular focus on the refined works of Hu Wenming, the celebrated metalworker active during the late Ming dynasty. This thoughtful and cohesive group reflects not only Ian Finer’s scholarly approach but also his deep appreciation for the aesthetic and cultural significance of Chinese bronzes.

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THE ART OF CHINESE BRONZES 1100-1900 Rose Kerr

The Finer Collection of bronzes dating to the Song-Qing dynasties is being introduced to the market at an interesting and significant time. A recent groundbreaking exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum in New York (February – September 2025) will travel on to the Shanghai Museum (November 2025 – March 2026). The exhibition and its accompanying catalogue are titled Recasting the Past. The Art of Chinese Bronzes, 1100-1900 and they include examples comparable to bronzes offered at Woolley and Wallis.

Yuan dynasty vases are now well known for their shapes and decoration. They were used in pairs on altars, household shrines, and in burial. Several good examples in the Finer Collection include a piece (Lot 4) cast in two parts, with animal head handles and a bold central design of entwined dragons. This resembles an item in the Metropolitan Museum, that copies a Western Zhou dynasty wine vessel illustrated in a classic text published c.1120 CE. Among the most renowned Ming dynasty bronzes are those that bear the signature Hu Wenming. Most are scholar’s objects that often feature gilded decoration in high relief against a dark background dense with geometric patterns.

Celebrated in his lifetime for masterful designs and exquisite craftsmanship, Hu’s pieces fetched high prices. This led to the production of numerous copies with apocryphal marks, thereby demonstrating the strength of the Hu Wenming “brand” and the high esteem in which signed pieces were held.

Large heavy arrow vases with loop handles on their necks were employed to play a traditional game called pitchpot, in which players threw arrows or sticks into the vessel from a distance. The game became popular during the Ming dynasty because it was linked to moral righteousness and allowed players to focus their thoughts and achieve a peaceful mental state. (Lots 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20) One speciality of late Ming to early Qing dynasty casting was the production of exquisite figures, some cold-painted (Lots 73, 77, 78), while depictions of animals and birds were often employed on utilitarian objects. Mirror stands took the form of a magical creature called qilin, turning its head to gaze up at the moon; the circular mirror placed in the stand represented the full moon. (Lots 68, 69, 72, 72A). The idea derives from Daoist notions about the birth of consciousness and the reflection of truth. Incense burners in the form of ducks or geese (Lots 74, 75, 76) were among the most popular archaistic designs from the Song dynasty onward. Known as “incense ducks” or “metal ducks” they were often cited in literary works that evoked elegant interiors.

Hand warmers (also known as sleeve vases) were known from the seventeenth century, when a maker called Zhang Mingqi became famous, working in the wealthy city of Jiaxing. Hand warmers became increasingly popular in the following centuries because they performed a useful function in unheated rooms. The vessels contained glowing charcoal embedded in ashes, to which incense could be added, thereby wafting fragrance into the atmosphere and onto one’s garments.

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1

Pengliang Lu, Recasting the Past. The Art of Chinese Bronzes, 1100-1900 (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2025).

2

Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1990), pp.39-49.

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1 A CHINESE GOLD-SPLASHED BRONZE VASE 17TH/18TH CENTURY The tall baluster body with a warm brown patina decorated with irregular gold splashes, the shoulder applied with two animal-mask loop handles above a band enclosing two taotie masks and cicada-shaped lappets on a leiwen ground, with a six-character Xuande mark to the base, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 72’, 1.8kg, 27.3cm. £4,000-6,000 Cf. The Oriental Art Gallery Limited, 1992 no.54 for a very similar example The origin of gold-splashed decorations on Chinese bronzes remains uncertain.

G Tsang and H Moss, in their book Arts from the Scholar’s Studio, p.184, suggest that this decorative technique may have gained popularity due to the influence of Xuande bronzes from the Ming dynasty, where the gold splashes resulted from the vessel’s uneven surface patination. 十七/十八世紀 銅灑金雙耳瓶 《大明宣德年製》

2 A CHINESE ARCHAISTIC BRONZE VASE, GU YUAN/MING DYNASTY Of hexagonal section, with a flared foliate rim above the tall neck decorated with lappets and bamboo-shaped flanges, the central section decorated with wan diaper divided by further flanges, raised on a tall foot, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 45’, 3kg, 37cm. £1,000-2,000 Provenance: purchased from Nicholas Pitcher Oriental Art, London, 5th November 2013.

Cf. Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8th November 2014, lot 3310 for a related example. 元/明 銅出戟花觚

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See paragraphs 4 & 5 of our conditions of business for additional charges on the final hammer prices at www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk

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3 A CHINESE SILVER WIRE-INLAID AND GILT-BRONZE ARCHAISTIC VASE AND COVER, YOU QING DYNASTY The pear-shaped body raised on a high flaring foot, cast to the exterior with flanges and decorated in relief with taotie masks and stylised animals highlighted in gold and silver, all reserved on a leiwen ground, the rope twist handle secured with beastmask terminals, the domed cover with further flanges and taotie, surmounted by a finial, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 23’, 35cm, 2.6kg. (2) £1,500-2,500 Cf. Sydney L Moss Ltd, The Second Bronze Age: Later Chinese Metalwork, no.58 for a related example dated to the Qing dynasty. 清 銅錯金銀饕餮提梁卣

4 A CHINESE ARCHAISTIC BRONZE VESSEL AND COVER, HU YUAN/MING DYNASTY Cast in two parts, the pear-shaped body with two dragon-mask handles, decorated with taotie, with bands of lotus lappets to the rims and four lines of seal script to the interior, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 118’, 7kg, 38cm. (2) £1,000-2,000 Provenance: previously from a Hong Kong private collection, then purchased from Nicholas Pitcher, London, 22nd August 2008.

Cf. Pengliang Lu, Recasting the Past, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, no.46 for a related vessel. 元/明 銅饕餮紋雙耳瓶

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5 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE GARLIC-MOUTH VASE LATE MING DYNASTY The compressed globular body rising from tall straight foot to a long neck terminating with a lobed ‘garlic-head’ mouth, the exterior of the body decorated with gilt whorls, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 37’, 2.1kg, 32.5cm. £500-800 Cf. Bonhams London, Michael Goedhuis: Brush and Bronze, 17th May 2023, lot 365 for a related pair of vases. 明晚期 銅灑金蒜頭瓶 6 A CHINESE BRONZE PEAR-SHAPED VASE YUAN EARLY MING DYNASTY With a waisted neck decorated with a band of taotie masks and with two dragon head-shaped handles and a flared rim, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 117’, 2.1kg, 26.7cm. £300-500 Provenance: previously from the estate of Anthony Wingate.

Cf. R Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, pp.46-49 for a comparable example. 元/明早期 銅獸耳瓶 7 A CHINESE GOLD AND SILVER-DECORATED PEAR-SHAPED VESSEL, ZHI 17TH CENTURY/18TH CENTURY Raised on a tall flaring foot, the body decorated with a band of taotie and stylised kui dragons with gilt and silver highlights on a leiwen ground, flanked by two flanges below the everted rim, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 114’, 2.2kg, 29.6cm. £500-1,000 Provenance: purchased from Gerard and Elvina Hawthorn, July 2017. 十七/十八世紀 銅錯金銀饕餮觶

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See paragraphs 4 & 5 of our conditions of business for additional charges on the final hammer prices at www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk

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8 A CHINESE BRONZE PEAR-SHAPED VASE YUAN/MING DYNASTY With a waisted neck decorated with a band of taotie masks and with two beast-mask handles and a flared rim, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 47’, 1.3kg, 24.6cm. £800-1,200 Cf. R Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, pp.46-49 for a comparable example. 元/明 銅雙耳瓶 9 A RARE BRONZE ZUN-SHAPED VASE EARLY 17TH CENTURY Rising from a splayed foot, the body decorated in relief with the figures of Xu and Chao Fu and an ox, reserved against a ground of diaper and crashing waves embellished with a crane and pine trees in low relief, all below a foliated rim, the base with a scratched mark, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 65’, 1kg, 17.5cm. £400-600 Cf. Robert D Mowry, China’s Renaissance in Bronze: The Robert H Clague Collection of Later Chinese Bronzes 1100-1900, p.56 no.10 for a related example. See also the Dresden Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) inventory no. 17365 for another similar vase. 十七世紀早期 銅人物紋瓶

10 A CHINESE ARCHAISTIC BRONZE VASE LATE MING DYNASTY With a pear-shaped body rising from a stepped foot to a waisted neck, flanked by a pair of beast-mask handles and loose rings, decorated with bands of stylised waves and taotie, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 115 A’, 4.9kg, 35cm. £300-500 明晚期 銅獸銜環瓶 11

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11 A CHINESE BRONZE YEN YEN VASE MING DYNASTY

12 A CHINESE BRONZE ARCHAISTIC HU-SHAPED VASE SONG/YUAN DYNASTY

With a bulbous body and a band of lappets to the shoulder, the slender neck with two handles cast with stylised cloud designs and a shallow band of archaistic dragons, the broad flared rim and waisted foot with bands of studs, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 116’, 28.2cm, 1.5kg.

The body raised on a splayed foot and the neck flanked by a pair of tubular handles, decorated with bands of leiwen, stylised chilong, taotie and geometric patterns, the base with three characters reading xian shiyi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 119’, 1.3kg, 26cm.

£400-600 Cf. Sydney L Moss Ltd, The Second Bronze Age, Later Chinese Metalwork, no.65 for a similar larger example. 明 銅螭龍紋鳳尾尊

£800-1,200 Provenance: previously Sydney L Moss, London, then purchased from Sotheby’s New York, Paul Freeman Collection, 21st March 2015, lot 713. 宋/元 銅饕餮螭龍紋雙耳壺 《鹹十一》

14 A CHINESE BRONZE HU-SHAPED VASE SONG/YUAN DYNASTY 13 A LARGE CHINESE BRONZE ARCHAISTIC BEAKER VASE, GU LATE MING DYNASTY Of slender form, the lower and mid sections cast with taotie reserved against a leiwen ground, the flaring upper section decorated with four lappets, all vertically divided by notched flanges, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 115’, 8kg, 44.3cm. £1,500-2,500

The pear-shaped body rising to a waisted neck and a slightly everted rim, all raised on a splayed foot, the neck flanked by a pair of tubular handles, decorated with bands of leiwen, lappets, taotie and geometric patterns, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 122’, 1.2kg, 25cm. £1,000-2,000 Provenance: purchased from Nicholas Pitcher Oriental Art, 17th May 2019.

Provenance: purchased from Nicholas Pitcher Oriental Art, 24th August 2018.

Cf. Sotheby’s Hong Kong, Later Chinese Bronzes from the Collection of Ulrich Haussman, 7th October 2014 lot 3384 for a related example.

明晚期 銅饕餮紋花觚

宋/元 銅饕餮紋貫耳瓶

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THE GAME OF TOUHU The game of touhu involved pitching arrows into narrow tubular-necked pots and had been a popular game from about 770 BC. In the Ming dynasty, the game became more widespread and was played by rich merchants and scholars as well as the aristocracy. Wang Ti, active during the Jiajing period, noted about the production of arrow vases in his Touhu yijie (Rules of Playing Touhu): ‘Some fancy craftsmen recently also created some unconventional forms of touhu, some can dangle like a swing, some are of exaggerated size, some are with two handles, some even with four!’; see Wang Ti, Touhu yijie, Beijing, p.40. Refer also to Isabelle Lee, ‘Touhu: Three Millennia of the Chinese Arrow Vase and the Game of Pitch-Pot, Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society , vol 56, pp. 13-27 for further discussion of the game.

15 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘MYTHICAL BEASTS’ ARROW VASE, TOUHU MING DYNASTY

16 A CHINESE BRONZE ARROW VASE, TOUHU 17TH CENTURY

The compressed circular body with four flanges divided by qilin, the neck with chilong and cast with panels of taotie, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 29’, 5.5kg, 46.5cm.

The compressed globular body raised on a high foot decorated with lappets, the body decorated with two lion masks and a further two animals divided by flanges below a band of the ba gua, the tall cylindrical neck with two tubular rings and decorated with two sinuous chilong, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 28’, 6.5kg, 49.6cm.

£3,000-5,000 明 銅螭龍紋掛耳投壺

£2,000-3,000 十七世紀 銅螭龍八卦紋貫耳投壺

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17 A RARE CHINESE BRONZE ‘BOYS’ ARROW VASE, TOUHU MING DYNASTY The compressed globular body rising from a splayed foot and surmounted by a tall cylindrical neck flanked by two tubular rings, decorated with boys carrying baskets and rings divided by flanges, with a further two figures holding branches and two chilong clambering up the neck, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 60’, 9.5kg, 46.8cm. £3,000-5,000 Cf. The Field Museum, Chicago, accession no. 117619 for a related ‘boys’ arrow vase. 明 銅胡人紋貫耳投壺

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18 A LARGE AND RARE CHINESE BRONZE ARROW VASE, TOUHU MING DYNASTY The hexagonal-section body rising from six beast-mask feet below panels of waves and foliate motifs, the compressed globular section decorated with six dragons divided ruyi-shaped flanges below six roundels depicting trigrams, the tall neck set with two male figures standing on cloud-shaped platforms, and with two chilong clambering up the sides, the four tubular rings decorated with taotie and the further roundels of trigrams, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 30’, 11kg, 59.5cm. £6,000-8,000 Provenance: purchased from Jan van Beers Oriental Art, London, 19th December 1996.

Cf. Saint Louis Art Museum, United States, accession no. 15:2005, from the gift of Robert E. Kresko, illustrated in Philip Hu, Later Chinese Bronzes: The Saint Louis Art Museum and Robert E. Kresko Collections, p.37, no.5 for a related arrow vase with a similar dragon motifs divided by flanges. 明 銅螭龍人物紋貫耳投壺

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19 A CHINESE BRONZE ARROW VASE, TOUHU MING DYNASTY

20 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘IMMORTALS’ ARROW VASE, TOUHU MING DYNASTY

The hexagonal-section body cast with flanges, the neck with rising and descending chilong and decorated with four bands in shallow relief with stylised mythical birds, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘ CB 27’, 3.3kg, 45.5cm.

The compressed globular body raised on a reticulated foot and surmounted by a tall cylindrical neck set with two tubular rings, the body decorated with a qilin and a buffalo, with beast-masks and ruyishaped flanges to the sides, the neck depicting Immortals including the Queen Mother of the West, Xiwangmu all reserved against wave and diaper grounds, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 68’, 9kg, 49cm.

£2,500-3,500 Cf. M Maucuer, Bronzes de la Chine impériale des Song aux Qing, p150, no. 102 for a related arrow vase. 明 銅螭龍紋貫耳投壺

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£3,000-5,000 明 銅西王母紋貫耳投壺

See paragraphs 4 & 5 of our conditions of business for additional charges on the final hammer prices at www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk

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HU WENMING LOTS 21 – 40 & 100

Hu Wenming (c. 1560-1620) was a celebrated metalworker from Yunjian (present-day Songjiang) who specialised in gilt metal scholar’s objects. He is considered one of the most accomplished artisans of the late Ming dynasty. Most of his works are made in beaten copper although those cast in bronze or copper are particularly prized.

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21 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY ‘TAOTIE’ INCENSE BURNER, GUI HU WENMING MARK, 16TH/17TH CENTURY The compressed globular body raised on a splayed foot, flanked by two mythical beast handles, the exterior with a wide band of taotie between bands of phoenix and butterflies and scrolling foliate tendrils, all reserved on a diaper ground, the base incised with a seal mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 110’, 610g, 16.9cm. £3,000-5,000 Provenance: purchased from Roger Keverne Ltd, 10th June 2016 Exhibited by Roger Keverne Ltd, Summer Exhibition 2011, no. 14. 十六/十七世紀 銅局部鎏金饕餮紋雙耳爐 《雲間胡文明製》

22 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY ‘MYTHICAL BEAST’ INCENSE BURNER, GUI HU WENMING MARK, 16TH/17TH CENTURY The compressed globular body raised on a straight foot, flanked by two mythical beast handles, the exterior with a central band depicting a dragon and other mythical beasts amongst waves and flames, the base incised with a seal mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 5’, 1kg, 24cm. £3,000-5,000 Provenance: purchased from Gerard Hawthorn Ltd Oriental Art, 5th June, Spring 2006, no.8. 十六/十七世紀 銅局部鎏金海獸紋簋式爐 《雲間胡文明製》

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23 A HEAVILY-CAST CHINESE PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY ‘MYTHICAL BEAST’ INCENSE BURNER, GUI HU WENMING MARK, 16TH/17TH CENTURY The compressed globular body raised on a splayed foot, flanked by two mythical beast handles, the exterior with a band depicting a dragon and other mythical beasts and sea creatures amongst crested waves and scrolling clouds, between further bands of auspicious emblems and scrolling lotus to the rim and foot, the base incised with a seal mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 111’, 1.7kg, 21.5cm. £4,000-6,000 Provenance: purchased from Ben Janssens Oriental Art, 8th December 2016.

Exhibited by Ben Janssens Oriental Art, ‘The Scholar’s Desk’, November 2011, no.13. 十六/十七世紀 銅局部鎏金海獸紋簋式爐 《雲間胡文明製》

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24 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE INCENSE BURNER, GUI HU WENMING MARK, 17TH CENTURY The compressed globular body raised on a flared foot, flanked by two mythical beast handles, with a central band of flame scrolls, between bands of butterflies and stylised chilong and scrolling foliate tendrils, the base incised with a seal mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 105’, 510g, 17cm. £2,000-3,000 十七世紀 銅局部鎏金獸耳簋式爐 《雲間胡文明製》

25 A CHINESE SILVER WIRE-INLAID AND PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY ‘MYTHICAL BEASTS’ INCENSE BURNER, GUI HU WENMING MARK, 16TH/17TH CENTURY The compressed globular body raised on a slightly splayed foot, flanked by two mythical beast handles, the exterior with a band depicting a dragon and other mythical beasts amongst flames, with a band of silver wire-inlaid key fret to the rim, the bottom two registers the base incised with a seal mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection CB 3’, 576g, 18cm. £2,000-3,000 Cf. Christie’s Hong Kong, 27th November 2017, lot 8117, for a related Hu Wenming incense burner with silver wireinlay and depicting mythical beasts. See also Bonhams London, 15th May 2014, lot 289 for another Hu Wenming incense burner with silver wire-inlay but depicting a different subject. 十六/十七世紀 銅局部鎏金海獸紋簋式爐 《雲間胡文明製》

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26 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY ‘MYTHICAL BEAST’ INCENSE BURNER, GUI HU WENMING MARK, 16TH/17TH CENTURY The compressed globular body raised on a slightly splayed foot, flanked by two mythical beast handles, the exterior with a central band depicting a dragon and other mythical beasts amongst waves and flames, the base incised with a seal mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 7’, 966g, 21.5cm. £3,000-5,000 Cf. Robert D Mowry, China’s Renaissance in Bronze: The Robert H Clague Collection of Later Chinese Bronzes 11001900, p.67, no.12 for a related example. 十六/十七世紀 銅局部鎏金海獸紋簋式爐 《雲間胡文明製》

27 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY ‘SEA CREATURES’ INCENSE BURNER, GUI HU WENMING MARK, 16TH/17TH CENTURY The compressed globular body raised on a slightly splayed foot, flanked by two mythical beast handles, the exterior with a central band of sea creatures amongst waves including a crab and molluscs, the base incised with a seal mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 80’. 549g, 17.5cm. £2,000-3,000 十六/十七世紀 銅局部鎏金海獸紋簋式爐 《雲間胡文明製》

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28 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY ‘MYTHICAL BEASTS’ INCENSE BURNER, GUI HU WENMING MARK, 16TH/17TH CENTURY The compressed globular body raised on a straight foot, flanked by two mythical beast handles, the exterior with a central band of mythical beasts, including Buddhist lions, the base incised with a seal mark reading Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 4’, 533g, 17.5cm £1,500-2,500 十六/十七世紀 銅局部鎏金海獸紋簋式爐 《雲間胡文明製》

29 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY ‘MYTHICAL BEASTS’ INCENSE BURNER, GUI HU WENMING MARK, PROBABLY 17TH CENTURY The compressed globular body raised on a flared foot, flanked by two key-fret and mythical beast handles, the exterior with a central band depicting mythical beasts amongst waves and clouds, the base with a four-character mark reading Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 6’, 641g, 15cm. £1,500-2,500 十七世紀（可能） 銅局部鎏金海獸紋簋式爐 《胡文明製》

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30 A RARE CHINESE GILT-BRONZE ‘MYTHICAL BEASTS’ INCENSE TOOL VASE HU WENMING MARK, 17TH CENTURY Of yuhuchun form, with an elegant neck gently curving to a flared lip, the exterior of the body decorated with mythical beasts, including a dragon, a Buddhist lion, a qilin and a pi xiu reserved against a diaper ground, the body supported on a flattened circular footrim, the recessed foot with a fourcharacter mark reading Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 70’, 382g, 11.5cm. £4,000-6,000 Cf. The Harn Museum of Art, Florida, accession no. 2009.48.55, for another small incense tool vase with a Hu Wenming mark depicting a similar subject. See also Sotheby’s, 17th April 2025, Monochrome, lot 389 for a incense tool vase with a Hu Wenming mark of a similar size and shape depicting lotus flowers. 十七世紀 銅局部鎏金瑞獸紋小瓶 《胡文明製》

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31 A RARE ARCHAISTIC BRONZE BELL HU WENMING MARK, 17TH CENTURY

32 A RARE ARCHAISTIC BRONZE BELL HU WENMING MARK, 17TH CENTURY

Decorated to each side with a chrysanthemum flowerhead flanked by two winged horses, below bands of lappets, key fret and raised bosses, the dome with a loop handle with beast-mask terminals, with a fourcharacter mark reading Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 41’, 980g, 20.5cm.

Decorated to each side with a chrysanthemum flowerhead flanked by two winged horses, below bands of lappets, key-fret and raised bosses, the dome with a loop handle with beast-mask terminals, with a four-character mark reading Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 74’, 980g, 20.5cm.

£4,000-6,000

£4,000-6,000

Provenance: previously sold Sotheby’s London, 1st November 1985, lot 358.

Cf. The British Museum, accession no. 1989,0608.1 and Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, Chinese Metalwork of the Hu Wenming Group, Handbook, International Asian Antiques Fair, Hong Kong, 1984, p.61, no.39 for two related bells.

Cf. The British Museum, accession no. 1989,0608.1 and Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, Chinese Metalwork of the Hu Wenming Group, Handbook, International Asian Antiques Fair, Hong Kong, 1984, p. 61, no.39 for two related bells. 十七世紀 銅仿古飛馬紋鐘 《胡文明製》

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十七世紀 銅仿古飛馬紋鐘 《胡文明製》

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33 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY INCENSE BURNER HU WENMING MARK, 16TH/17TH CENTURY Of rounded cylindrical form raised on three taotie feet, the exterior decorated with a central band of flowering plants, including lotus, bamboo, peony and chrysanthemum all reserved against a diaper ground, between key-fret bands to the rim and foot, the base with the four-character mark reading Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 90’, 376g, 10.3cm. £1,500-2,500 Provenance: purchased from Brian Harkins Oriental Art, 9th February 2011.

For incense burners of similar form and related decoration, see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession no. 2006.310 with a Yunjian Hu Wenming zhi mark and another example in The Shanghai Museum, which bears Yunjian Hu Wenming nan Guangyu zhi mark. 十六/十七世紀 銅局部鎏金四季花卉紋爐 《胡文明製》

34 A CHINESE GILT-COPPER ALLOY ‘BA GUA’ TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER HU WENMING MARK, LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY Of cylindrical form rising from three trefoil feet, cast around the exterior with a band of the ba gua, the base inscribed Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 2’, 406g, 9.5 cm £500-1,000 明晚期/清早期 銅八卦紋爐 《胡文明製》

35 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY ‘BA GUA’ AND ‘BAJIXIANG’ TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER HU WENMING MARK, LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY Of cylindrical form rising from lion-mask feet, the exterior with a band of the ba gua, the Eight Trigrams, and the Eight Buddhist Emblems, within borders of further Buddhist emblems, the base inscribed Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 82’, 560g, 9cm. £1,000-2,000 明晚期/清早期 銅八卦紋爐 《胡文明製》

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36 A CHINESE COPPER-ALLOY TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER HU WENMING MARK, LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY Of cylindrical form rising from three animal-mask feet, cast around the exterior with bands of Buddhist emblems, the base with a mark reading Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 59’, 465g, 9.7cm. £1,000-2,000 Provenance: purchased from Peter Kemp Antiques, London, 26th May 2011. 明晚期/清早期 銅佛教百寶三足爐 《胡文明製》

37 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY ‘BA GUA’ TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER HU WENMING MARK, LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY Of cylindrical form rising from three trefoil feet, cast around the exterior with a band of the ba gua between bands of precious objects, with a mark reading Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 58’, 401g, 8cm. £800-1,200 Cf. Lin Pe-yu, Censers, Incense Burners and Hand Warmers: Wellington Wang Collection, no.151 for a related example. 明晚期/清早期 銅八卦紋爐 《胡文明製》

38 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY ‘BA GUA’ TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER HU WENMING MARK, LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY Of cylindrical form rising from lion-mask feet, cast around the exterior with a band of the ba gua, the Eight Trigrams, within borders of Buddhist emblems, the base inscribed Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 1’, 540g, 9 cm. £1,000-2,000 Cf. Lin Pe-yu, Censers, Incense Burners and Hand Warmers: Wellington Wang Collection, no.151 for a related example. 明晚期/清早期 銅八卦紋爐 《胡文明製》

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39 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY ‘BA GUA’ TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER HU WENMING MARK, LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY Of cylindrical form rising from trefoil feet, cast around the exterior with a band of the ba gua, the Eight Trigrams, within borders of Buddhist emblems, the base inscribed Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 81’, 451g, 8cm. £800-1,200 Cf. Lin Pe-yu, Censers, Incense Burners and Hand Warmers: Wellington Wang Collection, no.151 for a related example. 明晚期/清早期 銅八卦紋爐 《胡文明製》

40 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY ‘BA GUA’ TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER HU WENMING MARK, LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY Of cylindrical form rising from lion-mask feet, cast around the exterior with a band of the ba gua, the Eight Trigrams, within borders of Buddhist emblems, with a mark reading Hu Wenming zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 112’, 507g, 9.5cm. £1,000-2,000 Provenance: formerly from The Erik Nordstrom Collection (1884-1971).

Cf. Lin Pe-yu, Censers, Incense Burners and Hand Warmers: Wellington Wang Collection, no.151 for a related example. 明晚期/清早期 銅八卦紋爐 《胡文明製》

41 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY Of cylindrical form, cast with a wide band of nine shou characters on a diaper ground, raised on three trefoil feet, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 56’, 394g, 8cm. £1,000-2,000 明晚期/清早期 銅九壽紋爐

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42 A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE ‘MYTHICAL BEASTS’ INCENSE BURNER 17TH CENTURY The body with four panels cast in relief depicting mythical beasts, including dragons amongst crashing waves, flanked by two beastmask handles and raised on four mythical beast-head feet, the cover cast in openwork with dragons and phoenix amongst clouds contesting two flaming pearls, surmounted by a lotus-petal finial, with a six-character Xuande mark to the base, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 57’, 3.8kg, 22.5cm. (2) £4,000-6,000 The depiction of mythical beasts amongst waves seen on the incense burner offered here is typical of the Kangxi period, due to a revival of interest in ancient texts, notably the Shanhai jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas). For related examples, see Chinese Incense Burners, Collection of Steven Hung &; Lindy Chern, no. 151 and Michael Goedhuis, Chinese and Japanese Bronzes A.D.1100-1900, no. 76. Compare also with a smaller but similar incense burner in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession no. 2006.448a,b dated to the 16th-17th century. 十七世紀 銅趕珠龍紋方爐 《大明宣德年製》

43 A CHINESE SILVER WIRE-INLAID COPPER ALLOY INCENSE BURNER AND COVER 17TH/18TH CENTURY The reticulated cover in two sections with a boy finial above a wide foliate rim, raised on three tall feet, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 22’, 3.3kg, 30cm. (3) £2,000-3,000 十七/十八世紀 銅錯銀持書童子香爐

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44 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘ELEPHANT’ TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER AND COVER QING DYNASTY Raised on three elephant-head feet with bejewelled headdresses, the body decorated with bands of key fret and scrolling lotus tendrils, set with two elephant-trunk handles, the openwork cover with further scrolling lotus and surmounted by a recumbent caparisoned elephant topped with a boshanlu finial, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 12’, 4.3kg, 34cm. (2) £2,000-3,000 Cf. Sotheby’s Paris, 12th June 2013, lot 131 for a similar example dated as Kangxi mark and period. 清 銅太平有象紋三足爐

45 A CHINESE BRONZE INCENSE BURNER, COVER AND STAND QING DYNASTY Cast to simulate bamboo, the reticulated cover with two squirrels, one forming the knop, the rectangular body with upright loop handles, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 10’, 7.4kg, 34 cm. (3) £1,500-2,500 清 銅松鼠壽竹雙耳爐及底座

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46 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY ‘ELEPHANT’ TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER EARLY QING DYNASTY The cylindrical body rising to a flared rim, the sides flanked by a pair of handles with ruyi-shaped corners, all raised on three feet modelled as elephant heads, the base with a six-character Xuande mark, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 11’, 1.2kg, 12cm. £3,000-5,000 Cf. Chinese Incense Burners, Collection of Steven Hung &; Lindy Chern, no.86 for a related example. For further discussion of incense burners of this form, see Robert D Mowry, China’s Renaissance in Bronze, pp.87-93. 清早期 銅太平有象三足爐 《大明宣德年製》

47 A CHINESE HEAVILY-CAST BRONZE ‘DRAGON’ INCENSE BURNER 18TH CENTURY The rectangular body cast with four dragons beneath a band of clouds and shou characters, raised on four tall feet, the base with a Xuande mark, with a wood stand, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 8’, 2.2kg, 17cm. (2) £1,500-2,500 十八世紀 銅雲龍壽紋衝天耳爐 《大明宣德年製》

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48 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY ‘FU LU SHOU’ INCENSE BURNER AND COVER QING DYNASTY The square-section body incised with decoration including vessels and coins, as well as inscriptions, the cover of an openwork geometric design with a central roundel depicting Shoulao and two others with a deer amongst pine trees, the base with a two-character mark reading tong chun, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 33’,1.3kg, 14.5cm. (2) £1,000-2,000 清 銅題詩福祿壽方形熏爐 《同春》

49 A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE ‘BAJIXIANG’ TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER QING DYNASTY The cylindrical body cast with the Eight Buddhist Emblems on a flowerhead diaper ground, with upright handles and tall cylindrical legs, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 9’, 1.2kg, 18.5cm. £800-1,200 清 銅鎏金八吉祥衝天耳三足爐

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50 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER QING DYNASTY The ding-shaped body with eight flanges interspersed by panels containing taotie masks, all raised on three cabriole legs, with a sixcharacter Xuande mark to the base, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 43’, 949g, 13.5cm. £400-600 清 銅局部鎏金饕餮紋三足爐 《大明宣德年造》

51 A SMALL CHINESE COPPER ALLOY TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER EARLY QING DYNASTY Of tapering cylindrical form set with two flanges to the sides, raised on three globular feet, the base with a six-character Xuande mark, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 66’, 277g, 8.5cm. £300-500 清早期 銅三足爐

52 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘LOTUS’ INCENSE BURNER LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY Of compressed globular form, cast with three bands of lotus lappets in low relief, the sides flanked by a pair of beast-mask handles, the base with a six-character Xuande mark, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 120’, 537g, 13.7cm. £400-600 Provenance: purchased from Gerard and Elvina Hawthorn, July 2017. 明晚期/清早期 銅蓮花紋獸耳爐 《大明宣德年製》

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53 A LARGE CHINESE ARCHAISTIC BRONZE INCENSE BURNER, FANGDING QING DYNASTY Of rectangular form, the sides decorated with taotie in relief and flanges reserved against a ground of leiwen, with two upright handles, raised on four scrolling legs, with a wood cover, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 84’, 7kg, 33cm. (2) £800-1,200 清 銅仿古饕餮紋方鼎

54 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘DEER AND CRANES’ TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER, DING 17TH/18TH CENTURY Cast with a continuous scene of deer and cranes within a rocky landscape amongst pine trees, reserved against a diaper ground, with two upright handles and raised on long cylindrical feet, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 38’, 1kg, 19.5cm £500-1,000 Cf. Christie’s London, 7th November 2006, for a related Kangxi example depicting a similar scene. 十七/十八世紀 銅鶴鹿同春三足鼎

55 A CHINESE BRONZE INCENSE BURNER QING DYNASTY The compressed globular body supported on a short foot rising to a flared rim, flanked by two stylised halberd-form handles, with a sixcharacter Xuande mark to the base, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 34’, 844g, 7.5cm. £800-1,200 The halberd-shaped handle, as seen on the lot offered here, derives its shape from ancient Chinese polearms, specifically the ji (a type of halberd combining spear and dagger-axe features) and the ge (dagger-axe). 清 銅戟耳爐 《大明宣德年製》

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56 A CHINESE BRONZE INCENSE BURNER QING DYNASTY The bombe-shaped body raised on a short straight foot, flanked by elephant-head handles, the base with a six-character Xuande mark, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 96’, 2.4kg, 22cm. £300-500 清 銅螭龍耳爐 《大明宣德年製》

57 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘BAMBOO’ INCENSE BURNER AND COVER QING DYNASTY Of rounded form, decorated with bamboo branches and leaves, with a five-character mark reading ji yi ju zhen cang, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 73’, 2.4kg, 18cm. (2) £500-1,000 清 銅竹紋雙耳爐 《集義居珍藏》

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SMALL SCHOLARS’ ITEMS LOTS 58 – 67

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58 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘LI BAI’ WATER DROPPER MING/QING DYNASTY The recumbent figure of the drunken poet, Li Bai, dressed in flowing robes holding a large gourd, with a wood stand, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 21’, 353g, 12.5cm. (2) £500-1,000 明/清 銅李白水滴 59 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘HORSE AND MONKEY’ WEIGHT 17TH CENTURY The recumbent horse with a monkey on its back, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 44’, 272g, 7cm. £200-300 十七世紀 銅馬上封侯鎮紙 60 A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE ‘BOY AND BUFFALO’ WEIGHT 17TH CENTURY The recumbent buffalo with a boy on its back, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 89’, 185g, 6cm. £200-300 十七世紀 銅鎏金牧童水牛鎮紙

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61 A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE WEIGHT 17TH CENTURY Cast and chased in the form of Liu Hai holding a coin in his hand and with a three legged toad on his shoulder, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 88’, 158g, 6.8cm. £1,000-2,000 Provenance: purchased from Gerard Hawthorn Ltd, ‘Miniature Works of Art’, Winter 2006, no.M24. 十七世紀 銅鎏金劉海戲蟾鎮紙 62 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘BOY AND BUFFALO’ WEIGHT 16TH/17TH CENTURY The recumbent water buffalo with a boy on its back, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 87’, 240g, 5.7cm. £250-350 Provenance: purchased from Gerard Hawthorn Ltd ‘Miniature Works of Art’, Winter 2006, no.M5. 十六/十七世紀 銅鎏金牧童水牛鎮紙 63 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘MYTHICAL BEAST’ WEIGHT 17TH CENTURY The recumbent animal holding a lingzhi spray in its mouth, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 94’, 107g, 5cm. £200-300 十七世紀 銅瑞獸銜蓮

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64 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY ‘PRUNUS’ INCENSE STICK HOLDER EARLY QING DYNASTY

65 A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE ‘LIU HAI’ WEIGHT 17TH/18TH CENTURY

Modelled as a gnarled prunus trunk and covered with blossoms, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 86’, 223g, 10.2cm.

The reclining, bare-chested figure resting on one elbow, carrying a string of coins and a double gourd behind his back, with his threelegged toad, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 62’, 156g, 8cm.

£200-300 Cf. Sotheby’s Paris, Asian Arts: 5000 Years, 20th April 2022, lot 265 for a related incense holder. 清早期 銅梅花紋香插

£300-500 十七/十八世紀 銅鎏金劉海戲蟾鎮紙

66 A MINIATURE CHINESE ARCHAISTIC BRONZE INCENSE BURNER 16TH/17TH CENTURY

67 A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE ‘BUDDHIST LION’ WEIGHT 17TH/18TH CENTURY

Of gui form, the rounded rectangular body supported on a flared foot and decorated below the rim with a band of scrolling lotus leaves, set with two loop handles issuing from beast-masks, the recessed base with a six-character Xuande mark, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 40’, 84g, 6.5cm.

With its front paw raised resting on a brocade ball, its face with bulging eyes and a fierce expression, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 20’, 154g, 5.7cm.

£500-800

十七/十八世紀 銅鎏金獅子繡球鎮紙

£400-600

Provenance: purchased from Gerard Hawthorn Ltd, ‘Miniature Works of Art’ Exhibition, November 2003, no.7.

Cf. Lin Pe-yu, Censers, Incense Burners and Hand Warmers, Wellington Wang Collection, p.192, no.162 for a related example. 十六/十七世紀 銅雙耳簋式爐 《大明宣德年製》 38

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68 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘QILIN’ MIRROR STAND MING DYNASTY The recumbent horned beast with its head raised and turned to the rear, bearing a crescent-form receptacle on its back, with a scrolling cloud panel to the front, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 107’, 1.9kg, 24cm. £1,000-2,000 Provenance: purchased from Gerard Hawthorn Ltd, 28th July 2016. 明 銅犀牛望月鏡座

69 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘QILIN’ MIRROR STAND MING DYNASTY The recumbent horned beast with its head raised and turned to the rear, bearing a crescent-form receptacle on its back, with a scrolling cloud panel to the front, with a paper label for the Finer Collection CB 13’, 1.4kg, 12cm. £800-1,200 明 銅犀牛望月鏡座

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70 A LARGE CHINESE BRONZE MIRROR STAND QING DYNASTY The recumbent beast with its head raised, with clouds emitting from its mouth to form the scrolling receptacle on its back, mounted with a plaque depicting a pavilion amongst rockwork and a pine tree, incised to the reverse with a scaly dragon and with a four-character Kangxi mark, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 15’, 10kg, 42.5cm. (3) £2,000-3,000 清 銅瑞獸鏡

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71 A SMALL CHINESE BRONZE ‘QILIN’ MIRROR STAND MING DYNASTY The recumbent horned beast with its head raised and turned to the rear, bearing a crescent-form receptacle on its back, with a scrolling cloud panel to the front, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 51’, 398g, 11cm. £400-600 明 銅犀牛望月鏡座 72 A CHINESE BRONZE ’QILIN’ MIRROR STAND MING DYNASTY The recumbent horned beast with its head raised and turned to the rear, bearing a crescent-form receptacle on its back, with a scrolling cloud panel to the front, mounted with a later circular mirror, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 14’, 721g, 16 cm. £1,000-2,000 明 銅犀牛望月鏡 Cf. Victoria and Albert Museum, accession no. M.737:1&;2-1910 for another gilt bronze qilin mirror stand.

72A A CHINESE BRONZE ‘QILIN’ MIRROR STAND MING DYNASTY The recumbent horned beast with its head raised and turned to the rear, bearing a crescent-form receptacle on its back, with a scrolling cloud panel to the front, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 109’, 831g, 16.5cm. £400-600 明 銅犀牛望月鏡座 Cf. M Maucuer, Bronzes de la Chine impériale, des Song aux Qing, cat. no.

57 for a related example in the Cernuschi Museum. For another similar mirror stand see the Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8th October 2014, lot 3370 from the collection of Ulrich Hausmann.

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73 A BRONZE ELEPHANT INCENSE BURNER 18TH CENTURY Modelled as a recumbent elephant, the cover formed as a figure of the Goddess of Mercy, the reverse with a heart-shaped hole, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 64’, 941g, 15.5cm. (2) £1,000-2,000 十八世紀 銅騎象普賢像

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74 A CHINESE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE ‘DUCK’ INCENSE BURNER MING/QING DYNASTY Standing on one leg with its head raised and mouth open, with details of the feathers and head picked out in gilt and forming the hinged cover, on an integral stand, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 61’, 980g, 48cm. £2,000-3,000 Cf. The British Museum, accession no. 1883,1020.10 for a related example dated to the Qing dynasty. 明/清 銅局部鎏金鴨型熏爐

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75 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘DUCK’ INCENSE BURNER AND COVER QING DYNASTY Depicted standing on one leg with its head turned and its beak open, with a cash motif apertures below the tail, raised on an integral base with ruyi-head supports, with traces of gilding, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 25’, 1.9kg, 26cm. (2) £600-800 清 銅鴨型熏爐

76 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘DUCK’ INCENSE BURNER AND COVER MING DYNASTY Depicted standing on one leg with its head turned and its beak open, with two cash motif apertures, raised on an integral rockwork base, with traces of gilding, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 18’, 3.4kg, 32.5cm. (2) £800-1,200 Cf. Sotheby’s New York, 18th September 2024, lot 125 for a related ‘duck’ incense burner. 明 銅鴨型熏爐

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77 A CHINESE COLD PAINTED-BRONZE FIGURE OF DU FU ON A HORSE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY Cast in two sections, the base a horse fitted with a bridle and saddle and with its ears pricked, surmounted by a figure of Du Fu wearing a flowing robe and with his right arm bent at the elbow, 1.7kg, 24cm. (2) £1,500-2,500 Cf. Sotheby’s London, The Property of H M Knight Esq., 12th May 1970, lot 24 for a related polychrome figure riding a mule.

Du Fu is considered to be the greatest of Chinese poets who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a golden age for Chinese poetry. His poetry was not only praised and enjoyed for its technical brilliance, but also for his moral engagement with current and historical events such as the devastating An Lushan rebellion (755-763). For this reason, Du Fu is also known as the ‘Poet Historian’. 明/清早期 銅杜甫騎馬像

78 A CHINESE BRONZE FIGURE OF SHOULAO RIDING A DEER QING DYNASTY Cast in two sections, the God of Longevity wearing flowing robes, seated upon a deer with its head turned back and its front leg left, with an associated stand, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 48’, 4kg, 37.5cm. (2) £800-1,200 清 銅騎鹿壽老

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79 A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF SHIDE 17TH CENTURY Standing dressed in flowing robes with incised hems, holding a lotus root in his left hand with his right hand raised, on an integral stand, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 19’, 730g, 19.5cm. £500-800 十七世紀 銅鎏金持蓮拾得像

80 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘IMMORTAL AND CRANE’ INCENSE STICK HOLDER 17TH CENTURY Standing carrying lotus, the crane holding a pearl in its beak, raised on an integral base, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 16’, 3kg, 24cm. £500-800 Cf. Christie’s London, 15th April 2004, lot 158 for another ‘Immortal and crane’ incense stick holder. 十七世紀 銅蓮花童子香插

81 A CHINESE BRONZE ‘FIGURAL’ INCENSE STICK HOLDER MING DYNASTY

82 A CHINESE BRONZE MINIATURE FIGURE OF AN ATTENDANT LATE MING DYNASTY

The figure wearing loose robes and holding a two-handled vase, with a wood stand, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 108’, 1kg, 15cm. (2)

Standing holding an incense burner and raised on a flared base, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘CB 101’, 181g, 11cm.

£500-1,000

£200-300 明晚期 銅持瓶童子像

Cf. Sotheby’s Hong Kong, Later Chinese Bronzes from the Collection of Ulrich Hausmann, lot 3342 for a related example. 明 銅持瓶胡人香插

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79 80

82 81

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HAND WARMERS LOTS 83 – 100

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83 A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE HAND WARMER AND COVER WANG XU MARK, 17TH CENTURY The bulbous body set with a swing handle, the cover cast, pierced and chased with a design of Magu and an attendant below a pine tree, the base incised a signature for Wang Xu and a poem, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 22’, 749g, 14cm. (2) £2,000-3,000 Cf. Gerard Hawthorn Ltd, Oriental Works of Art, June 1998, no. 35 &; no. 36 for related examples bearing the same mark and with inscriptions to the bases. See also Bonham’s London, 10th November 2016, lot 90 for another related hand warmer. 十七世紀 銅鎏金麻姑題詩手爐 銘文：採芝空有曲，種樹豈無詩，王旭。

84 A CHINESE GILT-COPPER ALLOY HAND WARMER AND COVER WANG XU MARK, 17TH CENTURY The bulbous body set with a swing handle, the cover cast, pierced and chased with a design of Zhong Kui and Kui Xing with a boy on his back below a pine tree and a waterfall, the base incised a signature for Wang Xu and a poem, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 51’, 834g, 13cm. (2) £2,000-3,000 Provenance: purchased from Gerard Hawthorn, 28th July 2016.

Cf. Gerard Hawthorn Ltd, Oriental Works of Art, June 1998, no. 35 &; no. 36 for related examples bearing the same mark and with inscriptions to the bases. See also Bonham’s London, 10th November 2016, lot 90 for another related hand warmer. 十七世紀 鎏金銅鐘馗捉鬼題詩手爐 銘文：斗桂桂枝隨手折，蟾宮獨步熟爭先，古香王旭。

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85 A CHINESE OVAL COPPER ALLOY HAND WARMER AND COVER ZHANG MINGQI MARK, EARLY-MID 17TH CENTURY The oval body with an intricately pierced cover with an openwork floral and geometric design, set with a swing handle, with a four-character mark reading Zhang Mingqi zhi, 543g, 11.4 cm. (2) £1,000-2,000 Provenance: purchased from Sotheby’s London, 7th December 1993, lot 74.

Published and exhibited by Sydney L Moss, The Second Bronze Age: Later Chinese Metalwork, 1991, no.82. 十七世紀中期 張鳴崎款銅鏤空帶環手爐 《張鳴崎製》

86 A CHINESE COPPER HAND WARMER AND COVER PAN XIANGFENG MARK, QING DYNASTY Raised on a straight foot, the body decorated with eight mythical beast heads within a leiwen ground and set with two bamboo-shaped handles, the cover similarly decorated with four further mythical beast heads within a leiwen ground, incised with a four-character mark reading Pan Xiangfeng zhi within a double square, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 5’, 907g, 18cm. (2) £1,000-2,000 Cf. Chinese Incense Burners: The Collection of Steven Hung &; Lindy Chern, no.213 for a related example with a Pan Xiangfeng seal mark to the base. See also Christie’s London, 14th May 2010, lot 708 for another similar example with a comparable leiwen and mythical beasts design.

Although little is known about the coppersmith Pan Xiangfeng, active during the late Ming and early Qing period, his hand warmers are recognisable through their shape and proportions, especially the rare and distinctive vertical foot. 清 潘祥豐款銅鏤空帶環手爐 《潘祥豐製》

87 TWO SMALL CHINESE COPPER ALLOY HAND WARMERS AND COVERS QING DYNASTY One of oval form, the cover decorated with a figure in a sampan amongst trees and a pavilion, the other of circular form, the cover decorated with a bird and an insect to the centre, with paper labels for the Finer Collection ‘HW 3’ and ‘HW 4’, 166g and 178g, 8.5cm and 7.5cm. (4) £800-1,200 Cf. Lin Pe-yu, Censers, Incense Burners and Hand Warmers: Wellington Wang Collection, no. 18 for a related oval hand warmer with a squirrel and vine design. 清 銅鏤空山水紋手爐及團鳳紋手爐 一組兩件

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88 A SMALL CHINESE LOBED COPPER ALLOY HAND WARMER WANG FENG JIANG MARK, EARLY QING DYNASTY Of oval form, the cover pierced with concentric circles and geometric panels containing floral and diaper designs, with a two-character mark to the base reading Feng Jiang, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 8’, 375g, 10cm. (2) £1,000-2,000 After Zhang Mingqi, Wang Feng Jiang is the most notable hand warmer maker from the late Ming dynasty. See Sydney L Moss Ltd, The Second Bronze Age: Later Chinese Metalwork, no.76 and Jin Yingyuan &; Zhang Zhengwang, Zhongguo minjian shoulu jianshang, p.19 for examples of handwarmers by Feng Jiang dated to the late Ming dynasty. 清早期 王鳳江款銅鏤空瓜棱式手爐 《鳳江》

89 A CHINESE COPPER HAND WARMER AND COVER ZHANG MINGQI MARK, EARLY QING DYNASTY The rectangular body with rounded corners and a swing handle, the pierced cover with a geometric and floral design, with a four-character mark reading Zhang Mingqi zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 43’, 629g, 10cm. (2) £800-1,200 Cf. Chinese Incense Burners, Collection of Steven Hung & Lindy Chern, no 219 for a related but much larger hand warmer with a similar fourcharacter Zhang Mingqi mark and cover design. 清早期 張鳴岐款銅鏤空帶環手爐 《張鳴岐製》

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90 A LARGE CHINESE CIRCULAR COPPER ALLOY HAND OR FOOT WARMER AND COVER QING DYNASTY The body incised to one side with the flowers of the Four Seasons including peony, prunus, lotus and bamboo issuing from rockwork, and set with a swing handle, the pierced cover with a geometric lattice design, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 6’, 2.3kg, 28cm. (2) £200-300 清 銅鏤空四季花卉紋帶環手爐

91 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY HAND WARMER AND COVER ZHANG MINGQI MARK, QING DYNASTY The plain rectangular body set with swing handle, the cover pierced with floral and geometric designs, with a two-character mark reading Mingqi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 30’, 1.3kg, 20cm. (2) £300-500 清 張鳴岐款鏤空帶環手爐 《鳴岐》

92 A CHINESE RECTANGULAR COPPER ALLOY HAND WARMER AND COVER ZHANG MINGQI MARK, QING DYNASTY Of rectangular form with rounded corners, the body set with a swing handle, the cover with a geometric cloud-shaped design, incised with a four-character mark reading Zhang Mingqi zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 55’, 1.1kg, 20cm. (2) £400-600 清 張鳴岐款鏤空帶環手爐 《張鳴岐製》

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93 A CHINESE COPPER HAND WARMER AND COVER ZHANG MINGQI MARK, LATE MING DYNASTY The oval body with an intricate openwork basketweave cover, the base with a four-character mark reading Zhang Mingqi zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection, ‘HW 44’, 683g, 12.5cm. (2) £1,000-2,000 Cf. Sydney L Moss Ltd, The Second Bronze Age: Later Chinese Metalwork, no.83 for a related example. For a further related Zhang Mingqi example see Sotheby’s London, 7th December 1993, lot 76. 明晚期 張鳴岐款鏤空手爐 《張鳴岐製》

94 A CHINESE COPPER HAND WARMER AND COVER ZHANG MINGQI MARK, LATE MING DYNASTY Of octagonal form rising from a flat base, the well-fitted domed cover intricately pierced with repeated floral motifs, incised with a four-character mark reading Zhang Mingqi zhi within a square, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 31’ 470g, 11cm. (2) £1,000-2,000 Cf. The Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, accession no.2017.56.a-.b for a hand warmer of a very similar design dated to the late Ming dynasty and with a Zhang Mingqi mark within a square. See also Jin Yingyuan & Zhang Zhengwang, Zhongguo minjian shoulu jianshang, p.1 for another related example with a swing handle and a two-character mark. 明晚期 張鳴岐款銅鏤空菊瓣紋八棱手爐 《張鳴岐製》

95 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY LOBED HAND WARMER AND COVER ZHANG MINGQI MARK, QING DYNASTY The body set with a double swing handle, the pierced cover with a geometric design, with a four-character mark reading Zhang Mingqi zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 37’, 952g, 18.5cm. (2) £400-600. 清 張鳴岐款銅鏤空瓜棱式手爐 《張鳴岐製》

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96 A CHINESE BRONZE HAND WARMER AND COVER ATTRIBUTED TO THE WORKSHOP OF WANG XU, 17TH CENTURY Of circular bulbous form, the cover cast, pierced and chased with a design of two dragons amongst clouds contesting a flaming pearl, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 48’, 587g, 12.7cm. (2) £1,000-2,000 Provenance: purchased from Gerard Hawthorn Ltd, Oriental Works of Art, 2008, no.53. 十七世紀 銅鏤空趕住龍紋熏爐

97 A CHINESE LOBED COPPER ALLOY HAND WARMER AND COVER QING DYNASTY The body with six lobes above a recessed base, the cover with a geometric floral design, the swing handle shaped to follow the lobes of the body and set with leaf-shaped terminals, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 9’, 825g, 17cm. (2) £800-1,200 清 銅鏤空帶環瓜棱手爐

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98 A LARGE CHINESE COPPER ALLOY HAND WARMER AND COVER ZHANG MINGQI MARK, QING DYNASTY Of rectangular form with rounded corners, set with a swing handle, the cover with a geometric and floral design, with a two-character mark reading Mingqi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 42’, 1.4kg, 20cm. (2) £500-800 清 張鳴岐款鏤空帶環手爐 《鳴岐》

99 A CHINESE COPPER ALLOY HAND WARMER AND COVER CHEN RULIN MARK, QING DYNASTY Of circular form, the body decorated with two scaly dragons chasing flaming pearls above waves, the body set with a swing handle fixed with cicada-shaped terminals, the pierced cover with two dragons around a central shou character, incised with a four-character mark reading Chen Rulin zhi, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 35’, 2.2kg, 22.5cm. (2) £800-1,200 Cf. Jin Yingyuan &; Zhang Zhengwang, Zhongguo minjian shoulu jianshang, p.135 for another hand warmer with a four-character Chen Rulin mark. See also Lin, Pe-yu, Censers, Incense Burners and Hand Warmers Wellington Wang Collection, no. 12 for a similar but unmarked hand warmer. 清 銅趕珠龍紋手爐 《陳如霖製》

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100 A RARE CHINESE PARCEL-GILT COPPER ALLOY ‘BOYS’ HAND WARMER AND COVER HU WENMING MARK, 16TH/17TH CENTURY Of rounded rectangular form, the exterior decorated with boys playing amongst pine trees, lingzhi and rockwork reserved against a diaper ground, set with two swing handles fixed with ruyi-head terminals, the cover with a central panel depicting furthers boys playing around a fenced lotus pond, surrounded by a lingzhi and prunus border, the recessed base incised with a four-character mark within a square reading Hu Wenming zhi mark, with a paper label for the Finer Collection ‘HW 36’, 716g, 15.5cm. (2) £8,000-12,000 Provenance: purchased from Adalbert Bang Oriental Art, Paris. 十六/十七世紀 胡文明款銅嬰戲圖帶環手爐 《胡文明製》 Cf. Paul Moss, Emperor, Scholar, Artisan, Monk, no.125 for a related Hu Wenming ‘boys’ hand warmer with a double swing handle. See also Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 December 2009, lot 1967 for another related hand warmer depicting boys at play by Hu Wenming. More recently a jardinière by Hu Wenming depicting a similar scene of boys at play within a garden landscape was also sold at Christie’s New York, 20th September 2013, lot 1542. For a detailed discussion of Hu Wenming’s work see Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, ‘Chinese Metalwork of the Hu Wenming Group’, Handbook, International Asian Antiques Fair.

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THE FINER COLLECTION OF BRONZES AND HAND WARMERS CONTINUES IN OUR ASIAN ART II SALE 12TH NOVEMBER 2025 LOTS 300-338

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AUCTION INFORMATION OPENING HOURS Castle Street Salerooms Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm Castle Gate Offices Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm VIEWING All our auctions are on view at least two days prior to the sale and details will be found in the relevant catalogues.

REGISTERING WITH US All first time buyers need to register with us.

To register, you will need to provide two forms of identification: 1. a passport or photographic driving licence 2. a utility bill or document showing your name and address You can register in person or by contacting the office on +44 (0)1722 424500 or emailing info@woolleys.live You will be asked to show your documents, or email copies.

PLEASE NOTE: Registering with thesaleroom.com or through our website does not automatically register you with us.

BIDDING AT AUCTION See below for the different options for bidding. Please note that you may be asked to provide two forms of identification, even if you have bid with us before, in order that we are compliant with Money Laundering Regulations.

BIDDING IN THE ROOM To bid at auction you will need a paddle number. This can be obtained from the office either during the view or on the day of the sale.

COMMISSION BIDDING If you are unable to attend the sale you can leave a commission bid. This will be executed on your behalf by the auctioneer who will purchase the lot as cheaply as possible bearing in mind any reserve price and other bids.

TELEPHONE BIDDING It is usually possible to bid on the telephone by prior arrangement with the office.

BUYER’S PREMIUM EaTh lot is subjeTt to a Buyer's Premium of 27% plus VAT at 20% (totalling 32.4% inTlusive) on the first £20,000 of the hammer priTe and 26% plus VAT at 20% (31.2% inTlusive) thereafter.

CONDITION REPORTS The relevant department will be pleased to give condition reports on any lot, where practical. All weights and measures given in the catalogue should be regarded as approximate.

The colours printed in the catalogue are not necessarily true.

SALE RESULTS These will be posted on our website shortly after the sale.

PACKING AND SHIPPING Woolley & Wallis do not offer a packing and despatch service but the following are carriers in our area.

Alban Shipping

+44 (0)1582 493099 info@albanshipping.co.uk www.albanshipping.co.uk

Kimdan Ltd

+44 (0)7973 389436 andy@kimdan.co.uk

Mailboxes

+44 (0)1962 622133 info@mbewinchester.co.uk www.mbe.co.uk/winchester

ZIXIS Fine Art Limited

+44 (0)7873 981026 zixisfineart@163.com www.zixisfineart.co.uk

Please note that we cannot be held responsible for any damage or loss to items once they are in the hands of a carrier.

EXPORTING YOUR PROPERTY FROM THE UK If you are exporting your property, import taxes, customs duties and other fees may apply at the country of destination.

It is also your responsibility to ensure that your shipment can be lawfully imported to the destination country.

Please note that due to the withdrawal of the Retail Export Scheme by HMRC, we are unable to provide VAT refund documentation (C88) for hand-carried exports.

In order to qualify for a VAT refund, your lots must be exported by a shipper and valid export documentation must be provided.

LIVE ONLINE BIDDING Live online bidding is now available free of charge for most of our auctions via bid.woolleyandwallis.co.uk, enabling you to take part in the bidding from anywhere in the world live as it happens.

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PAYMENT AND CLEARANCE Payment is due immediately after the auction in pounds sterling. If you are a first time buyer we will need your name and address and will require funds to be cleared before purchases can be released.

The following methods of payment may be made: Bacs, debit and credit cards.

Wire transfers should be sent to: Lloyds Bank plc, Blue Boar Row, Salisbury SP1 1DB. Account no. 00957707 Sort code 30-97-41 IBAN no. GB20LOYD30974100957707 BIC code LOYDGB21063 Debit and Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Amex or Union Pay Where practical, payment can be made and purchases collected during the auction.

We reserve the right to add storage charges to all lots not collected within 30 calendar days of the sale. This will include a handling fee of £20 (+ VAT) per consignment and a storage charge of £2 (+ VAT) per lot per day. No goods will be allowed to be collected until these charges have been paid.

LOT SYMBOLS VAT Lots marked with a dagger (†) are subject to VAT on the hammer price. Lots marked with an omega (Ω) have been temporarily imported from outside the EU and are subject to VAT at 5% on the hammer price and the buyer’s premium. In online catalogues, the Sales Tax % column indicates the rate of VAT on hammer price.

CITES REGULATIONS Please note that lots marked λ may be subject to CITES Regulations when exported.

ARTIST’S RESALE RIGHT / DROIT DE SUITE Lots marked with a Φ symbol are potentially subject to a levy.

Droit de Suite is a royalty payable to a qualifying artist or the artist’s heirs each time a work is resold during the artist’s lifetime and up to a period of 70 years after the artist’s death.

Royalties are calculated on a sliding percentage scale based on the hammer price excluding the buyer’s premium. The royalty does not apply to lots selling below £1,000 and the maximum royalty payable on any single lot is £12,500.

Droit de Suite, which is not subject to VAT, will be added to the buyer’s purchase price and then passed on to the relevant collecting agency.

Royalties for Droit de Suite are as follows: 4% Up to £50,000 3% £50,000.01 - 200,000 1% £200,000.01 - 350,000 0.5% £350,000.01 - 500,000 0.25% In excess of £500,000 Up to a maximum levy of £12,500 FIREARMS Lots marked Ƒ in the catalogue, or by any other means identified as controlled firearms, are subject to the UK firearms/shotgun licencing regime, and should only be viewed/ purchased by individuals with appropriate licences. It is the responsibility of the bidders to ensure that they are legally authorised to acquire the lot that they are bidding for. In the event that such a lot is successfully bid for by an individual who is not authorised to possess it, that individual will be required to pay for it, but are not allowed to take physical possession of it. The auctioneers will reoffer the lot on behalf of the buyer in a future auction; or may accept instructions to dispose of it by some other legal means, at their discretion.

The CITES Regulations may be found at www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/imports-exports/cites/

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WILTON & WARMINSTER

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Valuations are a core part of our business and are usually carried out by a senior specialist or director. Accuracy, speed and above all confidentiality are paramount.

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INSURANCE VALUATIONS Written valuations for insurance can vary from a single item to a large estate. Before starting we discuss the various options available so that the valuation is specifically tailored to individual clients’ needs.

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VALUATIONS

AMESBURY & MARLBOROUGH

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For valuations of an entire house contents an itemised bound valuation is produced and can be accompanied by photographs when required. In addition to providing an inventory, written valuations can prevent painful arguments with a loss adjuster in the event of a claim.

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Woolley and Wallis valuations are accepted by all leading insurance companies.

PROBATE VALUATIONS We offer a speedy and professional service for executors and trustees and provide bound valuations for probate and duplicate copies when required. Since security is often a consideration, we can usually arrange for a house to be cleared and sent for auction, our Valuations Department ensures that executors are informed of which sales are involved and the results thereof.

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We also carry out valuations for Family Division, Capital Gains Tax, and Private Treaty Sales.

Contact Jeremy Lamond +44 (0)1722 424502 | valuations@woolleys.live FREE AUCTION VALUATIONS Free verbal valuations of items for sale are available by appointment.

Please email valuations@woolleys.live or call +44 (0)1722 424500.

DIRECTIONS FROM WOOLLEY & WALLIS CASTLE STREET TO OLD SARUM

17 (2nd floor) Clifford Street, London W1S 3RQ (open by appointment only)

Follow A345 for 1.7 miles. At Beehive Park & Ride follow the signs for A338 Swindon and Marlborough.

Woolley & Wallis Salisbury Salerooms Ltd. 51-61 Castle Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 3SU Registered in England No.02998482 VAT No: 631 9832 29

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See paragraphs 4 & 5 of our conditions of business for additional charges on the final hammer prices at www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk

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AUCTION

CALENDAR 2025 OCTOBER

ENTRIES CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED FOR OUR MAY 2026 AUCTIONS

29th & 30th Fine Jewellery

NOVEMBER 11th, 12th & 13th Asian Art, Chinese Paintings & Japanese Works of Art

DECEMBER 2nd

Medals & Coins, Arms & Armour

10th

British Art Pottery

11th

Modern British & 20th Century Paintings and Works of Art

2026 JANUARY 20th, 21st & 22nd Classics week: Fine Furniture; Interiors; European Ceramics and Glass 28th & 29th Fine Jewellery

FEBRUARY 3rd & 4th

Silver & Objects of Vertu

Dates may be subject to change

+44 (0)1722 424500 info@woolleys.live 51-61 Castle Street, Salisbury, SP1 3SU www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk *Price includes buyer’s premium

A RARE NEPALESE GILT-COPPER FIGURE OF INDRA 14TH CENTURY SOLD FOR £100,800*

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THE FINER COLLECTION OF BRONZES & HAND WARMERS TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2025

THE FINER COLLECTION OF BRONZES & HAND WARMERS TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2025

woolleyandwallis.co.uk