18thc Chinese Heavy Brass Tripod Censer Wu Bangzuo 16-Character Mark 1364.5g

A Rare and Exceptionally Heavy Brass Chao Tian Er Tripod

Censer

Qing Dynasty, 18th Century

The base cast with a sixteen-character commemorative mark of

Wu Bangzuo

A Fine and Heavy Brass Chao Tian Er Tripod Censer

Qing Dynasty, 18th Century

The censer is masterfully cast with a powerfully

structured, compressed globular body supported by three sturdy, tapering tripod

feet. The elegant, slightly flared rim is surmounted by a pair of sweeping,

bridge-shaped loop handles (chao tian er or "heaven-facing ears") that

bow gracefully outward before rising toward the heavens.

The underside of the censer features a deeply recessed,

pristine square panel crisply cast with a prominent sixteen-character

inscription in regular script (kaishu): Da Ming Xuande liunian Gongbu

shangshuchen Wu Bangzuo jianzao ("Supervised by Wu Bangzuo, Minister of

the Ministry of Works, in the sixth year of the Xuande reign of the Great

Ming").

The metal is an exceptionally refined, dense alloy

displaying a rich, vibrant golden-honey hue beneath a natural, beautifully aged

olive-gold surface patina. The walls are notably thick, providing an immense,

luxurious weight when held in the hand.

Form: Chao Tian Er / Heaven-Facing Ear

Tripod

​Mark: 16-character Wu Bangzuo mark inside a recessed square

panel

Weight: 1,364.5 grams

​Dimensions: 8cm Height, 16cm Wide Handle to Handle

​Condition Report: Good condition, commensurate with age.

The vessel features a magnificent, heavy cast with minor expected surface wear,

light pitting, and microscopic casting inclusions that lend character to its

historic, patina. No signs of structural repair or alteration.

​Scholar's Note

​This censer is a spectacular testament to the 18th-century

revival of classic Xuande imperial metalwork. While standard period censers

featured simple six-character reign marks, elite scholarly workshops catering

to high-ranking bureaucrats often employed the complex 16-character mark

referencing Wu Bangzuo—the legendary superintendent of the original

15th-century imperial commissions.

The spacious, outward-bowing silhouette of the handles is

structurally indicative of 18th-century casting, diverging from the more rigid,

vertical handle geometries seen later in the mid-to-late 19th century.

Furthermore, its monumental weight of 1,364.5 grams indicates a lavish,

uncompromised use of highly refined brass alloy, placing it firmly within the

peak period of luxury scholar’s studio objects. The remarkable sharpness of the

hand-finished base characters sets this piece far apart from later Qing and

19th-century interpretations. ProvenancePrivate Collection United Kingdom

Provenance:

Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Prominent Asian Sale, United Kingdom

The G S. May Esquire Private Collection, London - Green Label