Vietnamese Nguyen Dynasty Tu Duc Period 3-Color Bronze Dragon Censer W/Hundred Treasures, Flaming Pearl & Buddhist Wan Mark (From a Vietnamese Royal Family) - This stunning piece is a bronze censer from the Tu Duc reign of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam. The censer shows magnificent attention to detail, and has elaborate dragon form handles, a fu dog finial top, the Buddhist wan mark, and a background of auspicious characters. The censer is also decorated with the Hundred Treasures motif circling the top, and a large flaming pearl resting just above the legs. The "Hundred Treasures" is a collection of emblematic forms that includes antiquities, scholar's items, representations of sacrificial vessels and three dimensional decorative arts of all types. The motif is generally associated with the life of a scholar or official, and each character has its own auspicious meaning. The flaming pearl is associated with spiritual energy, wisdom, prosperity, power, or immortality. This piece has excellent investment potential, as it is thought by experts around the world and avid collectors that due to the rapid modernization of Vietnam, Vietnamese antiques will within the next ten years be more valuable than Chinese antiques. According to some of the most expert collectors in the world, what used to sell for hundreds are now selling for tens of thousands. This piece comes from the estate of a Vietnamese Royal Family (the family now lives in the United States, and wishes to remain private as they still have relatives living in Vietnam). Measurements (approximate): 42"H x 38"W.