SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- An anonymous Asian art collector paid more than $1.38-million on Tuesday for a two-foot high Qianlong Period gilt bronze censer – sold during the $4.7-million Asian Art auction held at Bonhams & Butterfields in San Francisco. The 250-year old censer was described by the auctioneers as “fine and rare;” its bell-form bowl is decorated overall with rows of bronze lotus petals above a base of three gilt bronze elephant heads. Bidding opened at $40,000 with private collectors and Asian art dealers pushing the value far beyond the million-dollar mark, ultimately the censer hammered at $1.2-million, the final sale price: $1,386,000. The censer came from the private collection of Corinthian Studios in Washington State and its owners the late Bob Kongsli and Vern Halcomb. Another top work of Asian art sold Tuesday was last seen at auction in San Francisco in November of 2002. An 18th/19th century rhi