TWO CLOISONNE ENAMEL QILIN
CHINA
Each qilin is strongly cast standing four-square on stout legs with gilt hooves and raised head; each animal has long gilt whiskers, horns, furry eyebrows and beard and bushy tail; the gilt flaring mane forms a detachable cover at the back of the head above the spiky spine; the face is decorated with light-blue squares reserved on a green ground with bulging eyes, snout-like nose and opened mouth exposing sets of gilt teeth and tongue; the body is colourfully covered with red and green scales.

For a relative pair of Qilin, please see lot 3918, Christie’s Hong Kong, May 30th, 2012, « Masterpieces of the enameller’s art from the Mandel Collection ».

Provenance : From an old Montreal collection, assembled over 30 years, pieces bought from renowned antique dealers and public auctions

H : 20cm – 8’’
L : 29cm – 11.5’’