A CLOISONNE ENAMEL 'QILIN' CENSER AND COVER

QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A CLOISONNE ENAMEL 'QILIN' CENSER AND COVER
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
The horned beast is strongly casted in mid-stride with one leg slightly bent. The animal has long gilt whiskers, furry eyebrows, bulging eyes and a bushy tail. The ridged spine forms part of a detachable cover above the opening on its back. The body is enamelled with blue scales and red burgundy flames.
18 3/4 in. (47.5 cm.) long, Japanese wood box

Provenance

A Japanese private family collection, acquired in the 1930s

Brought to you by

Ruben Lien

chinese@christies.com +852 2760 1766

Lot Essay

The qilin is an auspicious animal which is a symbol of longevity, fertility and wise administration as it only appears during the reign of a benevolent ruler.

Compare to another cloisonne figure of a standing qilin also with a detachable cover on its spine, from the Palace Museum, Beijing which is illustrated in Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2002, p. 168, no. 160.

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