LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

The prototype of this type of modelling is likely to be from the Tang dynasty, such as the gilt-bronze example included in the Exhibition of the Mount Trust Collection of Chinese Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1970, and illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 42; and another Tang example in the British Rail Pension Fund, sold at Sotheby's London, 12 December 1989, lot 38.