Lot 371: A dark patinated bronze brush washer, Xuande mark, Qing Dynasty or later

A compressed globular metal vessel featuring a dark, near-black patinated surface decorated with fine yellow metal wire inlay. The exterior body is worked with a five-clawed dragon clutching a flaming pearl, set against a dense ground of scrolling clouds and leiwen patterns. A similar five-clawed dragon medallion is inlaid to the interior well. The flared rim and low circular foot show a natural copper-coloured alloy where the patina was not applied. The base is decorated with continuous cloud scrolls surrounding a central square seal mark. The mark is incised in fine lines within a double-line square border and reads 大明宣德 (Da Ming Xuan De), referencing the Xuande reign of the Ming Dynasty.