The technical achievements in porcelain production during the Qianlong reign allowed of a great deal of experimentation at the official kilns to satisfy the Emperor's desire for innovation. One popular fashion was to simulate other materials such as lacquer, cloisonné, bronze and wood. The present censer shows that this fashion was not restricted to simulating one of these materials. In this instance the bronze shape and colour of the glaze is combined to satisfying effect with a simulated wood border and enamelled panels.

A very similar censer in the Palace Museum Collection, probably from the same mould, but with gilt decoration on a dark brown ground is illustrated in Gu taoci zi liao xuancui, juan 2, Forbidden City Press, Beijing, 2005, no. 222.

Compare also a simulated bronze Qianlong tripod censer from the Robert Chang Collection, sold in these Rooms, 31 October 2000, lot 804.