cast as a small long-tailed bird perched on a rocky outcrop, the body forming the receptacle and the detachable folded wings forming the cover, with short beak, spiraled tufts of short feathers at the throat, and finely detailed claws, embellished with various multicolored semi-precious stones including turquoise, agate, lapis lazuli, jadeite, and carnelian at the curling crest, cheeks, and plumage, the rocky integral base accented with similar stones carved as lingzhi heads (2) 

Sotheby's New York, 8th April 1988, lot 298.
Michael Gillingham, London.

Overall in good condition with minor surface wear, dents and pitting.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present censer can be associated with a group of animal-form, hardstone-inlaid gilt-bronze incense burners from the Qianlong period. All share archaistic motifs and feature an array of variously shaped semi-precious stones inset to accent the fur, feathers, and physiognomy. However, it is rare to find one cast as a single bird, as most extant examples are cast as phoenix or mythical beasts.  Compare hardstone and glass-inlaid phoenix-form censers, perched on very similar rocky bases: one sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2009, lot 1734, another at Christie's New York, 2nd June 1989, lot 368. A further pair sold at Christie's New York, 27th November 1991, lot 59, and again in the same rooms, 26th March 2010, lot 1179. A 'double phoenix' example sold at Bonhams London, 6th November 2014, lot 270. 

A 'yingxiong' censer, in the form of a recumbent phoenix above a mythical beast, was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 23rd October 2005, lot 396. For a mythical beast-form censer, see one formerly in the Herbert R. Bishop Collection, sold at American Art Galleries, 25th January 1906, lot 2035, again in these rooms, 20th November 1973, lot 3000, and once more at Christie's London, 15th June 1999, lot 105.