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Lot Essay
These two bronze dragon models are very rare and unusual. The dragon is not only the symbol of the Chinese emperor but also a beneficent creature. Unlike his European counterpart he is a symbol of wealth, good omen and power. The dragon was supposed to rise from winter hibernation among the waves at the spring equinox to bring the rain necessary to nurture the crops.
While these two dragons appear to be unique examples, they relate to the bronze dragons holding the huge armillary sphere which can still be seen at the Beijing Observatory, made by the Jesuit missionary Ferdinand Verbiest for Qianlong's grandfather, the Kangxi Emperor in 1673. The armillary sphere is illustrated by Wan Yi, Wang Shuqing and Lu Yanzhen (compilers), translated by R. Scott and E. Shipley, Daily Life in the Forbidden City - The Qing Dynasty 1644-1912, Harmondsworth, 1988, p. 68, pl. 95.
See also the pair of bronze dragons at the entrance of the Chuxiugong (Palace of Gathering Elegance), illustrated in The Eternal Forbidden City, China Nationality Art Photograph Publishing House (ed.), 2004, pp.105-106.
It is also possible to see links between the present powerful dragons with mouth open in a roar and sinuous body and the pair of large imperial Qianlong cloisonné dragons with ruyi clouds and gilt bronze wave-form stands (sold by Christie's New York in October 2004, lot 452), which were included in the important exhibition China: The Three Emperors 1662-1795, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2005-2006, exhibit no. 9.
It is additionally noteworthy that imperial interest in large bronze imperial dragons continued into the latter years of the Qing dynasty. When the Palace of Gathering Excellence was refurbished in 1884 for the celebration of the 50th birthday of the Empress Dowager Cixi, at a cost of 630,000 taels of silver, two large bronze dragons on stands depicting turbulent waves, with mountains rising from them on each of the four sides, were placed in front of the building. These remain in place today and are illustrated by Yu Zhouyun in Palaces of the Forbidden City, New York, 1984, p. 98, pls. 86 and 87.
While these two dragons appear to be unique examples, they relate to the bronze dragons holding the huge armillary sphere which can still be seen at the Beijing Observatory, made by the Jesuit missionary Ferdinand Verbiest for Qianlong's grandfather, the Kangxi Emperor in 1673. The armillary sphere is illustrated by Wan Yi, Wang Shuqing and Lu Yanzhen (compilers), translated by R. Scott and E. Shipley, Daily Life in the Forbidden City - The Qing Dynasty 1644-1912, Harmondsworth, 1988, p. 68, pl. 95.
See also the pair of bronze dragons at the entrance of the Chuxiugong (Palace of Gathering Elegance), illustrated in The Eternal Forbidden City, China Nationality Art Photograph Publishing House (ed.), 2004, pp.105-106.
It is also possible to see links between the present powerful dragons with mouth open in a roar and sinuous body and the pair of large imperial Qianlong cloisonné dragons with ruyi clouds and gilt bronze wave-form stands (sold by Christie's New York in October 2004, lot 452), which were included in the important exhibition China: The Three Emperors 1662-1795, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2005-2006, exhibit no. 9.
It is additionally noteworthy that imperial interest in large bronze imperial dragons continued into the latter years of the Qing dynasty. When the Palace of Gathering Excellence was refurbished in 1884 for the celebration of the 50th birthday of the Empress Dowager Cixi, at a cost of 630,000 taels of silver, two large bronze dragons on stands depicting turbulent waves, with mountains rising from them on each of the four sides, were placed in front of the building. These remain in place today and are illustrated by Yu Zhouyun in Palaces of the Forbidden City, New York, 1984, p. 98, pls. 86 and 87.