Page 24 - Bonham's Asian Art London November 12, 2015

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A LONGQUAN CELADON-GLAZED ‘LUDUAN’ INCENSE
BURNER AND COVER
16th century
Well potted, the mythical beast standing four-square, its round body carved
with swirls issuing flames, carrying a bell at the chest, the cover shaped as
the animal’s head surmounted by a single curved horn, the mouth agape
and curling mane below the chin, with bulging eyes and a snout-like nose,
applied overall with a lustrous green glaze, Japanese wood box.
12.5cm (4 7/8in) high (3).

£8,000 - 12,000 CNY77,000 - 120,000
HK$94,000 - 140,000

十六世紀 龍泉青釉甪端式小薰爐

The present lot is based in form on a metal prototype. However, ceramic
versions of these figural censers are rare. A similar example from the
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Chia is illustrated in Chinese Celadons and
Other Related Wares in Southeast Asia, Southeast Asian Ceramics Society,
Singapore, 1979, Catalogue no.279, pl.230, and later sold at Sotheby’s
Hong Kong, 5th November 1996, lot 655. For an example of a Ming
dynasty prototype see The Second Bronze Age, Later Chinese Metalwork,
Sydney L. Moss, Ltd, London, 1991, no.18. Luduan are auspicious beasts
known for their ability to detect the truth and travel great distances in a short
time. For a full discussion on the subject accompanying a bronze Qing
dynasty example of the form see P.K.Hu, Later Chinese Bronzes, The Saint
Louis Museum and Robert E. Kresko Collection, Saint Louis, 2008, pp.162-
167. A similar Longquan celadon ‘luduan’ censer and cover, 16th century,
sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 May 2014, lot 3413.

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