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Lot Essay
The form and style of casting of this rare vessel appears to be based on earlier Han dynasty prototypes, such as the goose-form censer of smaller size (5½ in. high) included in the exhibition, Ausstellung Chinesischer Kunst, Berlin, 1929, p. 64, no. 95. The goose is shown standing with head raised, but rather than the whole upper part of the body forming the cover, it is formed only by the wings. The wing feathers appear to be cast in relief and well detailed. A larger bronze duck-form censer (16½ in. long), also of Han date, is illustrated by D. Jenkins, Mysterious Spirits, Strange Beasts, Earthly Delights: Early Chinese Art from the Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Collection, Portland Art Museum, Oregon, 2005, pp. 80-1. As with the present vessel the cover is formed by the entire upper body of the figure, while the lower body, which is raised on the bird's legs, also has an oval interior to hold the incense. Here, again, the artisan has paid attention to the detailing of the feathers. See, also, the bronze duck-form box (approximately 9 in. long) illustrated by C. Delacour, De bronze, d'or et d'argent: Arts somptuaires de la Chine, Musée Guimet, 2001, where the upper body forms the cover, and where the feathers all over the body are finely detailed and in some areas on the cover are realistically raised and curled.
There was great interest in the archaic during the Song dynasty, and during this period early bronzes were copied, sometimes quite faithfully, sometimes with a more modern aesthetic. For a large (18½ in. long) bronze goose-form censer of Song date, see the example illustrated by R. Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990, p. 82, pl. 62, where the author, p. 80, notes that similar goose-form censers have been excavated from Song tombs. Unlike the present vessel, the cover fits into a small opening in the back and the upper beak is hinged. The feathers and body are smoothly rendered, rather than the more elaborate depiction of feathers on the present lot.
The present censer, with its addition of gilding, would have made a sumptuous yet functional vessel.
There was great interest in the archaic during the Song dynasty, and during this period early bronzes were copied, sometimes quite faithfully, sometimes with a more modern aesthetic. For a large (18½ in. long) bronze goose-form censer of Song date, see the example illustrated by R. Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990, p. 82, pl. 62, where the author, p. 80, notes that similar goose-form censers have been excavated from Song tombs. Unlike the present vessel, the cover fits into a small opening in the back and the upper beak is hinged. The feathers and body are smoothly rendered, rather than the more elaborate depiction of feathers on the present lot.
The present censer, with its addition of gilding, would have made a sumptuous yet functional vessel.