A RARE LONGQUAN ‘LUDUAN’ CENSER, MING
China, 16th-17th century. The heavy censer is modelled as a luduan, standing foursquare with its tail flicked upwards. Its head is modelled separately as cover with a single horn. Its mouth is left agape exposing its teeth and fangs. It is covered overall in a pale celadon glaze.

Provenance: English private estate.
Condition: Two tiny nicks; four of the fangs and nostril tips, a crack to one leg and a chip to the vessel opening with old repairs. Wear, kiln grit and some firing imperfections.

Weight: 847.6 grams
Dimensions: Height 15.8 cm

Note the unglazed paws revealing the brown tone of the ware.

Auction result comparison: Compare with a related luduan censer at Christies Hong Kong on May 28th, 2014, in The Imperial Sale / Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, lot 3413.

明代龍泉甪端香薰
中國，十六至十七世紀。甪端擡頭仰天，尾巴捲翹，穩穩利於四足。香薰蓋是甪端的頭部，帶獨角。嘴巴張開，可見獠牙。整體施灰白色青釉。

來源：英國 私人遺產
品相：兩道輕微刻痕， 四顆獠牙和鼻孔尖端，一條腿上有裂紋，香薰邊沿有一道舊時已修補的小磕損，有磨損、窯砂和燒製缺陷。

重量： 847.6 克
尺寸： 高 15.8 厘米