QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

Pairs of Chinese porcelain birds of this impressive size were often mounted in ormolu and featured in important European collections. Compare a pair in the collection of the Rt. Hon. Sir Philip Sassoon, Bt., sold Christie's London, 2 May 1935 and a pair in the collection of a European Royal family, sold Christie's London, 1 April 1968 and again 6 November 1995. More recently, a slightly smaller pair of this model mounted in Louis XV ormolu by Duplessis and formerly in the collection of Ogden Mills was sold Christie's, London, The Exceptional Sale, 4 July 2013, lot 9.