A Chinese gilt bronze Gui, Hu Wenming, Ming Dynasty, 16th century, of ogee circular form with twin dragon handles, the main frieze cast in relief with Buddhist auspicious animals, within bandings of dissolved dragons and butterflies, on a high outward angled foot, the underside with incised four character seal of Hu Wenming 7 x 18 x 12.7cm Literature: For a similar bronze incnse burner signed by Hu Wenming and decorated with similar auspicious animals, see Power and Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty, San Francisco, 2008, p.180 fig.111 Hu Wenming from Songjiang, Jiangsu province, is considered amongst the most skilled and gifted craftsman of the late Ming dynasty. His work was highly sort after by scholars and the literati to decorate their desks. The shape of the incense burner is inspired by an archaic prototype, gui, dating to the Zhou or Shang dynasties. Most examples depict animated creatures which have been drawn from the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas', Shan Hai Jing. However, this example is decorated with some of the Eight Buddhist Emblems, bajixiang.