A BRONZE 'LUDUAN' WEIGHT, 17TH CENTURY China. Cast crouching on its rear haunches, the head turned upwards with a single horn, bulging eyes and wide flaring nostrils, the mouth open to reveal sharp fangs and teeth, wearing a bell collar, the body decorated with stylized wings.

Provenance: An English private collector, by repute acquired from Paul Bromberg (inventory number B4 according to a collection label, now lost). Paul Bomberg is a contributing editor of the Arts of Asia and a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society. He has lived in Asia since 1985 and contributed to several books, including Bencharong and Chinaware in the Court of Siam (2011), the Royal Porcelain from Siam: Unpacking the Ring Collection (2013), and Thai Silver and Niello Ware (2019).
Condition: Very good condition with minor traces of use, old wear and some casting flaws, minor nicks here and there. Good, naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 216.3 g
Dimensions: Height 5.2 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related paperweight in the form of a luduan in the collection of Paul Bromberg, dated to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), published by Paul Bromberg, Later Chinese Bronze Paperweights, Arts of Asia, Autumn 2021, no. 25.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29 May 2019, lot 709
Price: HKD 47,500 or approx. EUR 6,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze 'luduan' paperweight, late Ming dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose and decorations as well as the related size (6.1 cm).


十七世紀青銅甪端鎮紙
中國，昂首傲立，蹲伏狀。雙目圓瞪，炯炯有神，發須盤結，前胸配以纓絡鈴鐺，腹部兩側浮雕如意雲頭紋、火焰紋等。體態飽滿圓潤。全器包漿厚實凝重，形制古樸。

來源：英國私人收藏，據説購於Paul Bromberg 處 (根據收藏標籤有收藏編號B4 ，現已遺失)。Paul Bomberg 是《亞洲藝術》的特約編輯，也是皇家亞洲學會會員。他自 1985 年起居住在亞洲，並為多本著作做出了貢獻，包括關於暹羅宮廷中的 Bencharong 和瓷器（2011 年）、《the Royal Porcelain from Siam: Unpacking the Ring Collection》（2013 年）和《Thai Silver and Niello Ware》（2019 年）。
品相：品相極好，有輕微使用痕跡，磨損和一些鑄造缺陷，局部有輕微的刻痕。整體良好，自然生長的包漿。

重量：216.3 克
尺寸：高5.2 厘米

文獻比較：
比較一件非常相近的明代(1368-1644)甪端鎮紙，見Paul Bromberg，〈Later Chinese Bronze Paperweights〉，《Arts of Asia》，2021年秋天，第25號。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2019年5月29日，lot 709
價格：HKD 47,500（相當於今日EUR 6,000）
描述：明末青銅甪端鎮紙
專家評論：比較相近姿勢的甪端和裝飾，以及尺寸 (6.1 厘米)。