A BRONZE ‘LUDUAN’ DOOR KNOCKER, MING DYNASTY China, 1368-1644. Boldly cast with a central luduan head with a fierce expression marked by large bulging eyes, a broad nose, bared teeth, and a single horn, framed by a full set of curly mane, the mouth suspending a movable ring handle, all on a foliate base with six lozenge-shaped apertures for securing to a door.

Provenance: Estate of Dr. Otto Schwend, acquired between 1923 and 1925 in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China and thence by descent in the same family. Dr. Otto Schwend (1892-1951), a German physician who lived in East Asia for fifteen years, first in Dongguan between 1923 and 1926, and subsequently in Bangkok, Thailand between 1926 and 1938. After serving as a military surgeon in World War I, he worked at a missionary hospital in Dongguan from 1923 and moved to Thailand three years later to open a private practice in Bangkok. As a successful doctor fluent in Chinese, he became an important figure in Bangkok, even treating members of the royal family. During his time in East Asia, Schwend built a substantial collection of Chinese and Thai art, which he brought back to Germany and has remained in the possession of his family for over 80 years.
Condition: Very good condition with old wear, traces of use, minor casting irregularities, minuscule nicks and dents, and light scratches. Fine, naturally grown, matte patina with malachite green encrustation here and there.

Weight: 3,061 g
Dimensions: Diameter 24.6 cm

Luduan are mythical and auspicious creatures with strong lion bodies, a single horn and the paws of a bear. They are believed to have the ability to traverse vast distances and master all languages, as well as foretell the future, giving life to the good and killing evil. According to legend, they were originally known as ‘jiaoduan’, and their name changed to ‘luduan’ because the character for ‘lu’ matched their appearance better. Known as guardians of enlightened rulers, luduan were said to appear in areas where a wise and virtuous leader was present.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related bronze door knocker, 44 cm high, dated circa 17^th century, at Christie’s Paris in Art d’Asie on 10 December 2020, lot 167, sold for EUR 27,500.

明代甪端銅輔首
中國，1368-1644年。圓形片狀。主紋為甪端紋，甪端睜目蹙眉，如意形鼻子，獨角，口含銅環，面目兇惡猙獰，鬃毛飛揚。六邊菱形孔葉狀底座，用於固定到門上。

來源：Dr. Otto Schwend收藏，1923 至1925年間購於中國廣東東莞，保存在同一家族至今。Dr. Otto Schwend (1892-1951) 是一位德國醫生，在東亞生活了 15 年。1923 年至 1926 年間，他先是在東莞，隨後 1926 年至 1938 年在泰國曼谷生活。在第一次世界大戰中擔任軍醫後，1923 年起他在東莞的一家教會醫院工作 。三年後移居泰國，在曼谷開設了一家私人診所。 作為一名能說一口流利中文的成功醫生，他成為曼谷的重要人物，甚至為皇室成員提供治療。在東亞期間，Schwend收藏了大量的中國和泰國藝術品，並將其帶回德國，並一直由他的家人收藏超過 80 年。
品相：狀況極好，磨損、使用痕跡、輕微的鑄造瑕疵、微小的刻痕和凹痕以及輕微的劃痕。 自然細膩的包漿，多處可見綠色結殼。

重量：3,061 克
尺寸：直徑 24.6 厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相近的約十七世紀銅輔首，高44 厘米，見巴黎佳士得 Art d’Asie 2020年12月10日 lot 167, 售價EUR 27,500。