Chinese Bronze Censer, Further Research?

Listed it last night and offers started right away. The best one so far is 2k.
I did some research prior to listing and got to the conclusion that the piece is not of significant age and importance. The shape is a bit off compared to the other examples I saw online. The halberd ears censers usually have more squat and bulbous bodies.
The Chinese bronze incense burners are usually marked on the base, a lot of them with auspicious Xuande and other Ming seals.
Here I have two symbols/characters at the center of the interior bottom. I am not able to translate them but I suspect they could be Ancient bronze script, but not from the period they represent.

Did I rush the listing and should I have done more research? Maybe asked an auction house? I still doubt the piece would bring much more than the best offer I have so far but I've seen some old censers fetching 100k and more.

131613590683

 

Kard: I am totally confused. I looked up the listing, which you have at $99, and there are no offers visible -- certainly not for two thousand dollars...?

 

There is no buy now or best offer format. That is why the Chinese msgs me. Two of them three times. Like 'give me your phone number, I"ll pay right away....." etc. I"ll just let the auction run and meanwhile write to auction houses. If they give high estimate I'll cancel the listing even if there are bids.

 

I did some research prior to listing and got to the conclusion that the piece is not of significant age and importance.........................................

Seriously......accept the offer or pull it and do much much more research.....

You seem to have items the the Chinese want......or at least want in their hands before asking you for a refund !!

 

Accept or pull you say. From my experience with Chinese items, they always sell for at least twice the best offer. The yixing pot sold for 4k, best offer was $700, papier mache box with jade medallion sold for 2k, best offer was $900.... and more.
In most of the cases the people who does the offers are the one ending paying double at the end.
The question is if Ebay can provide the same markeplace for high end items as the big auction houses can.
Don't mention the word refund

 

I would pull the auction. Send a pics to auction house, see what they say.

 

hey Kardi, you were the one who said....... the piece is not of significant age and importance.........................................

So then.....let the auction run it's course....

 

I still doubt the piece would bring much more than the best offer I have so far

&

In most of the cases the people who does the offers are the one ending paying double at the end.

So which one do you stand by.......it can't be both !

 

I thought it is not of significant age and importance but I was wrong most of the previous times.
You almost got me on the second one. Doubt means somewhat sure but not positive. And then, in most cases but not all.
Anyway, I'll figure something out.
Don't forget me if you manage to translate the script

 

Forget you !!!!???
Not a chance ! ....

 

Don't forget that scamsters show up in all kinds of online sales not just CL. Unless you've personally had sales under similar circumstances work out, I'd let the auction run. Your link doesn't seem to work so I haven't seen the item yet. If someone out there is convinced it is really valuable, they'll bid it up, and if that doesn't happen you know they are just scamsters.

 

Spring, Try this....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131613590683

 

Thanks, looked at Kard's. All I can say about that one is that it has a lot of competition, specifically 6254 similar items. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...er+.TRS0&_nkw=chinese+bronze+censer+&_sacat=0

Scrolling thru even a few pages shows many models repeating, often with a different patination, different feet, different handles, etc. must be a sizeable industry in China turning out all these censers.

Still I don't know whether Kard's is old or new -seems to be the only one with a wooden lid. I checked a number of the other ones for sale and didn't see one with those marks, all those I happened to look at had the familiar square cartouche with many characters in it.

 

If you filter the 6254 results with sellers from US only, it will come to 157 listings, North America - 165.
There may be exceptions but Chinese sellers almost never sell Chinese antiques. I don't know if they are allowed.
I think the interest may have something to do with the halberd ears. You won't find many censers for with such ears for sale.
Another thing could be the mark. If this is an ancient script not many people would be able to read it and the one that cannot or have never seen it before may find it of an interest.

 

Might be a good one-the most telling thing for me is the wooden lid. Didn't see any in the reproductions from China that I looked at. Also, the 3 white "pillow" like additions were most likely needed due to shrinkage of the lid over time.

Anyway here's one of the few (160 or so) listed as being in the US, BIN only $27.5K. The cast bronze stand is very artsy and I'm guessing due to the large no. of watchers, many have ID'd this one as the real deal. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Chi...tury-Marked-/231480899008?hash=item35e55635c0

 

You are right about the wooden lid. I almost bought the censer because of it. The wood and the carvings are old. There should be jade, amber or other stone as finial but it has been removed. By the way, these type of censers are not supposed to have lids but I saw online few older pieces with similar ones.

 

Speaking of wooden lid, there is only one noted in the "Incense Burner Virtual Museum" online. It really isn't any help for you other then a wooden lid is mention with no attempt at date. The burner is bronze and does seem to be pot shaped like yours.

In the "Search" field on the top left, enter the number 502:
http://www.kandaki.com/BP-Index.php

--- Susan

 

Don't know if this will help. Might not even fit, but I'll give it a try.
Meanwhile, I know you have a Chinese item and your direct bidders may be well worth considering. But my last high priced item, which had hit highest watched item, had so many scammers that eBay phoned me about it. And it turns out they were all Chinese.

For the heck of let's see if this takes and helps at all.

US $500.00 - US $25,000.00

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw..._salic=1&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&LH_Complete=1

 

How do exactly the scammers work?
Have 30 watchers so far but no bids. But Chinese likento bid in the last moment.
The guy with the 2k keep pushing me. Now he offers 3k, gave me his paypal account to send him payment request. I don't know if he's playing games or he is serious.
I think I'll just let the auction run.

 

Good idea. One that didn't look a lot different to me but had been polished appraised for 4-6k? On ARS on TV, but would have been 9-12K if unpolished.