Xuande Emperor (1426-1435), Ming Dynasty certified lidded bronze burner, China. Amazing genuine bronze burner with foo dog on the lid, marked with six characters on the bottom. The lid has 4 stoppers and 5 windows for the flavors to come out. Xuande reign marks proliferate on bronze censers but many of these are apocryphal. The Xuande Emperor (1425-1435) was a great patron of Vajrayana Buddhism, commissioning the production of thousands of exquisite ritual and religious bronzes for the altars and halls of the newly constructed Forbidden City as well as to present to Tibetan emissaries. His ten-year reign is considered the peak of Chinese bronze production and the Xuande reign mark’s continued employment gives an insight into the reverence towards the wares he produced. Height: 8 inches = 20. 2 cm. Weight: 3 lb. 6.1 oz. = 1.534 kg. Condition: genuine patina all over. Provenance: private collection in Sarasota, Florida, USA. Censers, also known as incense burners, have a long history in China, dating back to ancient times. They were used for a variety of purposes, including religious ceremonies, medicinal treatments, and as a means of purifying the air.