Details
The heavily-cast, straight-sided censer is raised on four low angular supports and set with two angular loop handles. The base is cast with an apocryphal Xuande mark.
6 in. (15.3 cm.) across handles


Provenance
Dr. S. Marsh Tenney (1922-2000), acquired prior to 1949 and thence by descent to the present owner.
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Lot Essay

Dr. S. Marsh Tenney (1922-2000) was an accomplished physician, research scientist and educator who reorganized and revitalized Dartmouth Medical School. His fascination with China began in his youth, as his mother owned a collection of “treasures from the Orient” that his grandfather, Stephen Marsh, Iowa's state attorney, received when he defended pro bono Chinese immigrants, who at the time faced discrimination and harassment. At Dartmouth Dr. Tenney furthered his interest and was the only student in the Introductory Chinese class. When it came time to fulfill his military obligations, Dr. Tenney was posted to China and served as the chief medical officer for the Navy from 1947-1949. Joined in Shanghai by his young wife Carolyn, who worked as a nurse in a clinic, Dr. Tenney continued to study Chinese, as well as calligraphy.

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