Lot 11 A Chinese blue and white 'Luduan' incense burner

A Chinese blue and white 'Luduan' incense burner

Wanli/Tianqi

未知

€ 10.000 – € 20.000

H: H. 15,5 cm

未知

Finely modelled after a luduan, the mythical single-horned beast associated with wisdom, virtue and auspicious rule. The robustly potted creature stands firmly on four feet decorated with flames, with an expressive head featuring bulging eyes, pronounced brows, whiskers and an open mouth beneath a removable cover. The body is painted in underglaze cobalt blue with stylised scrolls and ruyi-head motifs, while a saddle cloth is draped across the back. Incense burners of this type belong to a rare group of Wanli-period zoomorphic wares inspired by earlier bronze prototypes.
此香爐精塑作甪端形。甪端為中國古代神話中的獨角瑞獸，象徵智慧、仁德與治世祥瑞。瑞獸體態敦厚，四足直立，足部塑作火焰形；面部神態生動，雙目圓凸，眉骨高聳，鬚髯分明，口部張開，上承可拆卸爐蓋。通體以青花繪卷草及如意雲頭紋，背披鞍毯。
此類香爐屬萬曆時期極為少見的動物造型瓷器，其形制承襲早期青銅器傳統，兼具雕塑性、實用功能與吉祥寓意。
Reference:
Christie's New York, 22-23 September 2022, lot 977 for a comparable example. (sold USD 22.680) (link)
Provenance:
S. Marchant & Son, London.
The Drs. A. M. Sengers Collection, collection no. 157, acquired from the above in May 1983.
S. Marchant & Son, London, with their label to the base.
The Baert-Devos collection, Belgium. Acquired from the above on 17 October 2001 and accompanied by a copy of their original invoice. (see added scans)
Exhibited & published:
S. Marchant & Son, London, included in their November 2001 exhibition of 'Ming Blue and White Porcelain. The Drs. A. M. Sengers Collection' and published in the accompanying catalogue, pp. 48-49, no. 34.