A BRONZE ‘LUDUAN’ CENSER, EARLY QING DYNASTY China, 17^th-18^th century. Finely modeled as a mythical beast standing foursquare, detailed with neatly delineated mane and tail above a stout body with stylized markings, the head forming the cover with bulging eyes, ruyi-shaped nose, and mouth agape revealing tongue and teeth.

Provenance: Austrian trade, by repute from a private estate.
Condition: Good condition with old wear and casting flaws, tiny losses, minuscule nicks, and light scratches, the underside with a minor old fill, few small drilled holes.

Weight: 1,822 g
Dimensions: Length 19 cm

The throne of the Emperor of China in the Hall of Supreme Harmony has two incense burners shaped as Luduans, the legendary Chinese auspicious creatures who can travel 18,000 li (9,000 km) in a single day and speak all world languages. A legend says that a Luduan once appeared to Genghis Khan and convinced him to abandon his efforts to conquer India.

The auspicious nature of luduan was particularly appropriate for the purpose of these censers. Cast with hinged or removable heads, they were made for burning incense and smoke would emerge from the beast’s mouth, animating and empowering the sculpture. As Chuimei Ho and Bennet Bronson note in their discussion of a pair of Qianlong cloisonné enamel examples from the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in the exhibition ‘Splendors of China's Forbidden City, The Glorious Reign of Emperor Qianlong’ by The Field Museum, Chicago, 2004, these burners were traditionally valued at the Imperial Court, as with their open mouths and smoke billowing forth, they were a reminder to the emperor that he should always be receptive to honest advice (see page 37).

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related bronze luduan censer, 7.5 cm high, bearing a Xuande mark, dated to the 17^th century, at Sotheby’s London in Menagerie: An English Private Collection of Chinese Animal Carvings on 10 May 2017, lot 29, sold for GBP 13,125.

清初甪端銅香薰爐
中國，十七至十八世紀。昂首傲立，雙目圓瞪，如意鼻，髮鬚盤結，頭部與身體相分開，便於燃香，腹部中空，口齒鏤空，以利香散，設計巧妙。體態飽滿圓潤。全器包漿厚實凝重，形制古樸。

來源：奧地利古玩市場，據説購於私人收藏。
品相：狀況良好，磨損和鑄造瑕疵、微小的缺損和刻痕以及劃痕，底部有少量舊填充物，有小孔。

重量：1,822 克
尺寸：長 19 厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相近的甪端銅爐，高 7.5 厘米，有宣德款，十七世紀，見倫敦蘇富比Menagerie: An English Private Collection of Chinese Animal Carvings 2017年5月10日 lot 29, 售價GBP 13,125。