This rare incense burner, finely cast of archaistic pou form, closely relates to two others signed by Hu Wenming, suggesting that this may also be from his workshop.
See the pou-shaped vessel with dated inscription corresponding to 1613, from the collects ion of Professor Peter and Mrs Traudi Plesch, sold in our London rooms, 13th May 1969, lot 19 and again, 4th April 2012, lot 118, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collects ion. It was included in the exhibition Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, cat. no. 103, where the authors highlight the importance of rubbings s taken from original vessels that contributed to the simplification and abstraction of designs found in later objects.
Another pou-form bronze vessel by Hu Wenming was sold in our London rooms, 11th December 1990, lot 38, and again in these rooms, 23rd October 2005, lot 12, from the Mary and George Bloch collects ion.
