Page 52 - Sotheby's May 10th 2017 London Animal Menagerie, Chinese Art
P. 52
32
A RARE IVORY ‘QILIN’ SEAL
MING DYNASTY, 15TH/16TH CENTURY
of square form, the top of the seal incised with two parallel grooves,
surmounted by a qilin crouching on its rear haunches with an upright bushy
tail, its scaly body emitting flame scrolls around the limbs, the head looking
forward with large bead-shaped eyes and wide flaring nostrils, the ivory
patinated to a rich golden-brown colour, suffused with a network of crackle
in concentric circles
. , ⅞.
Ⴚ£ 20,000-30,000
HK$ 193,000-290,000 US$ 24,900-37,300
For footnote see p. 133
50 SOTHEBY’S
