Large Chinese figural bronze Luduan form or foo / fu dog censer, comprised of two parts. Beast or lion is depicted standing, the head with pricked ears, two horns, a curled mane and an open mouth having four sharp teeth and broad tongue. The rotund body with raised flame decoration, a fanned tail and four stout legs having flaming pearl decoration and resting on claw type paws. Underside of torso with archaic mark. 21 3/4" H x 9 1/2" W x 14 1/2" L.Bronze weighs 56.5 pounds. Provenance: The estate of Edith (Edie) M. Bass, Nashville, Tennessee, by descent from her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.P. McBride. A shipping manifest that descended with this object states that it was purchased on August 6, 1924 by W. P. McBride of Chicago, from Fu Teh Jung of 50 Jade St. in Peking, China, who acquired it from a retired Chinese military official, "Mr. Huei, Military Governor of Chiu-Chiang, China under [the] Ching [sic] Dynasty". The bronze is recorded on the shipping manifest as Han Dynasty. The porcelain vase referred to on this manifest is also in this auction (see lot #27). Note: Mrs. Bass's mother, Claire Childs McBride (Mrs. W.P. McBride), was the daughter of C. Frederick Childs (1875-1955), founder of the C.F. Childs & Co. Securities Co. Mr. Childs was the first dealer of U.S. Government Securities. His offices in Chicago and New York were across the street from the Federal Reserve in each city and his trading office was located at One Wall Street. Edie McBride Bass attended Miss Porter's School and graduated from Vassar. She married Jack Maddin Bass of Nashville, Tennessee, whose father owned J.M. Bass and Co., one Nashville's first securities firms. Edie served numerous charitable institutions in Nashville. She was a Lifetime Trustee of Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and the Ensworth School, and served on the Board of Miss Porter's School. She was a driving force in establishing fund raising for the Swan Ball, The Land Trust of Tennessee, and the M.S. Society.

Old losses to tips of both ears. Stress fracture to joint of back left leg. Scattered pitting and wear to bronze commensurate for age.