A PAIR OF GILT-BRONZE AND CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL LUDUAN, CHINA, 18TH – 19TH CENTURY
Well modeled in mirror image, each seated on its haunches with the head raised and mouth slightly agape revealing a set of sharp fangs. The gilt face set with a broad ruyi-shaped snout, a pair of bulging eyes below a thick, neatly incised brow flanked by two floppy ears, the head surmounted by a ribbed and curved horn. Their bodies are finely decorated in bright enamels with dragon and phoenix designs as well as floral diaper, and their fur is well detailed with gilt wire, the spines with scroll terminating in flaming tails. The claws and pads of their paws are gilt. (2)


Provenance:
From a private collection of Chinese art and jade carvings in London, United Kingdom, built between the 1970s and 1990s, and thence by descent.

Condition
: Flaking and minute losses to enamels with associated minor old fills and touchups, otherwise in good condition with expected wear and manufacturing irregularities, small dents, and light scratches.

Weight: 553.2 g and 563 g
Dimensions: Height 15 cm (each)


Luduan
are legendary beasts believed to be capable of detecting the truth, traveling great distances in short amounts of time (9,000 km/day), and mastering different languages. Often mistaken for Qilin, which have hooved feet, luduan tend to have rounder bodies and clawed paws. Known as the guardian of enlightened rulers, it was said that this mythical animal was originally named ‘jiaoduan’, but Emperor Qin Shihuang decided to use ‘luduan’ because the Chinese character ‘lu’ matched the image of the unicorn better. During the Ming and Qing eras, incense burners, seals and statues by doorways were usually shaped as Luduan because of its auspicious associations.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Paris, 16 December 2022, lot 48
Price: EUR 25,200 or approx.
EUR 26,500
adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of cloisonné enamel luduan censers, China, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and related modeling with similar poses and heads with open mouths. Note that this lot comprises a pair of censers, while the present lot are figures. Note the size (19.5 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 12 May 2016, lot 212
Price: GBP 5,000 or approx.
EUR 8,300
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of cloisonné enamel mythical beasts, luduan, 18th/19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and related modeling with similar poses and heads with open mouths. Note the size (20 cm).




十八至十九世紀一對銅鎏金掐絲琺瑯甪端

造型精美，甪端呈半坐狀坐於後腿之上，抬頭，嘴巴微張，露出鋒利的獠牙。鎏金的臉上有一個寬闊的如意形鼻子，濃密而整齊的眉毛下有一雙大眼，兩側各有一隻下垂的耳朵，頭上有一個有棱紋的角。它們的身體上以琺瑯飾有精美的龍鳳圖案的，以及纏枝花卉紋，他們的皮毛上有銅線細節，火焰狀尾巴。爪子鎏金。(2)


來源：
來自英國倫敦中國藝術品和玉雕私人收藏，建於二十世紀七十年代至九十年代，傳承自今。

品相：
琺瑯剝落和微小損失，伴有輕微的小修，有磨損和製造不規則、小凹痕和輕微劃痕。

重量：分別爲553.2克與563 克
尺寸：各高 15 厘米


拍賣結果比較：


形制：非常相近
拍賣：巴黎佳士得，2022年12月16日，lot 48
價格：EUR 25,200（相當於今日
EUR 26,500
）
描述：清十八/十九世紀掐絲琺琅甪端香爐 一對
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題，以及相近的張口姿勢。請注意此為一對爐，以及尺寸 (19.5 釐米)。


拍賣結果比較：


形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦邦瀚斯，2016年5月12日，lot 212
價格：GBP 5,000（相當於今日
EUR 8,300
）
描述：十八/十九世紀銅胎掐絲琺瑯甪端 一對
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題，以及相近的張口姿勢。請注意尺寸 (20 釐米)。