Page 244 - Sothebys Speelman Gems of Chinese Art

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A BRONZE ‘LUDUAN’ 十七世紀 銅甪端
INCENSE BURNER AND

COVER Inspired by gilt-bronze incense burners from the Xuande
period, the present piece is striking for its detailed rendering
17TH CENTURY of the mythical beast, cast with a ferocious expression, a finely
combed mane and powerful horned claws.
cast in the form of a luduan depicted standing on a snake-like
mythical creature, the serpentine figure forming the base Incense burners of this type were modelled to allow the smoke
of the vessel and rendered gripped by the beast’s claws, of the burning incense to emerge from the beast’s mouth,
the chest of the hollow body cast with a long strip of scaling giving the impression of a living creature breathing smoke. As
decorated with an elaborate collar around its shoulders, Chuimei Ho and Bennet Bronson expound in their discussion
suspending a bell and two ornamental tassels, the sides with of a pair of Qianlong cloisonné enamel examples from the
flaming wisps and stylised ruyi heads flanking an elaborate Palace Museum, Beijing, included in the exhibition Splendors
tail with tufts of hair, the cover of the vessel rendered in the of China’s Forbidden City. The Glorious Reign of Emperor
form of a single-horned head accentuated with ruyi heads, its Qianlong, The Field Museum, Chicago, 2004, these burners
mouth portrayed wide open and revealing its fangs to enable were traditionally valued at the Imperial Court, as with their
egress open mouths and smoke billowing forth, they were a reminder
h. 12.7 cm, 5 in. to the emperor that he should always be receptive to honest
advice (see p. 37).
HK$ 200,000-300,000
US$ 25,600-38,400

242 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比