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Someone has offered me a base of a Qing bronze censer (though it is marked Xuande) for a fairly low price. I sent photos to one of the top three auction houses who indicated that that, though it is a decent piece, they would not handle since it is missing the cover.

I show a couple photos of the offered item, and also enclose a photo of a similarly styled complete censer (cover and base) that was auctioned a few years ago.

My question is whether collectors here would place this in their collections or let it pass as an incomplete item?

Since you already know that you would not be purchasing as an investment, your decision would be based on how much you like it.

No one can tell you this.

it's not possible to answer that for you,but just intuitively, ask yourself what your purpose is in owning this piece if you purchase it. your comment on low price suggests either that you see it as a good value for a collectible you have an interest in, or that you are trying to gauge if you have room to raise the price and resell it. if the former, is its value to you as a study piece, as something intrinsically attractive, or as something else? that is, what determines its worth to you? if the latter, keep doing your research on comparable items and their sales prices. the reason this one may be priced "low" is because the seller has not yet found any market interest.

I do like it but, I prefer to collect items that I have the option to trade up in the future. I do not have experience with the bronze and am asking whether a bronze collector would consider this investable/collectable or, would I have a rough time trading/selling later on.

I am not considering reselling this at this time.

Some more photos of the censer I am considering.

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