A RARE PAIR OF CHAMPLEVÉ ENAMEL 'LUDUAN' CENSERS AND COVERS, QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

A RARE PAIR OF CHAMPLEVÉ ENAMEL 'LUDUAN' CENSERS AND COVERS
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
Each of the censers is cast as a mythical beast, luduan, with its rotund body finely decorated with flower heads amongst tendrils, highlighted in blue and red champlevé enamels against a turquoise ground. The small bell is cast above a stripe of pink enamelled scales to the chest. The hinged head is cast with an open mouth revealing sharpened teeth, bulging eyes inset with cabouchon stones and a snout-like nose between pricked ears and a single horn. Each luduan is standing foursquare on a hexagonal plate chased with scrolling peonies against a ring-punch ground, above a waisted stand with two confronting rows of lappets above foliate feet.
10 in. (25.4 cm.) high

Pre-Lot Text
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF RAINE, COUNTESS SPENCER