A LARGE SANCAI GLAZED ‘BUDDHIST LION’ CANDLEHOLDER, MING DYNASTY


Expert’s note:
This candleholder would have been originally made as a pair and placed on either side of an altar, the cylindrical receptacle supporting a temple candle. Evidence for candles made from whale fat in China dates back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE).

China, 1368-1644. The caparisoned lion standing foursquare on a rectangular base, with bells and a tassel hung from the trappings, the mouth wide open in a roar showing its tongue and teeth, its back supporting a cylindrical candle holder issuing from the center of the cloth draped over its body. Finely glazed in classic ‘Sancai’ of amber, green, and a creamy off-white.


Provenance
: French trade.

Condition
: Good condition with old wear, traces of use and expected firing irregularities. Glaze flaking, small nicks, and shallow surface scratches. Old repair to one ear and minor touchups.

Weight: 5,205 g
Dimensions: Height 31.8 cm, Length 38 cm


Literature comparison:

Compare a related lion-form stand in the Royal Ontario Museum of Archaeology, Toronto, which was included in the exhibition, The Arts of the Ming Dynasty, 1952, pp. 30-1, no. 213.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 27 November 2019, lot 3068
Price: HKD 175,000 or approx.
EUR 22,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large amber and green glazed tileworks ‘Buddhist lion’ stand, Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
Expert remark: Compare the related pose as well as the closely related amber and green glazes. Note the lotus-form receptacle and the size (52 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 29 March 2006, lot 428
Price: USD 42,000 or approx.
EUR 59,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large glazed tileworks ‘Buddhist lion’ stand, Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose with similar roaring expression, caparison with similar trappings, and cylindrical holder. Note the different glazes and the larger size (73.7 cm).




明代三彩佛獅燭臺


中國，1368-1644 年。獅子昂首挺胸站在長方底座上，身上掛著鈴鐺和流蘇，大嘴張開，似乎在咆哮，露出獠牙牙。它的背部是一個圓柱形燭台。精美的綠、白和黃色三彩釉。


來源：
法國古玩交易。

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損、使用痕跡和燒製缺陷，釉面剝落、小刻痕和淺表面劃痕，一隻耳朵有小修。

重量：5,205 克
尺寸：高31.8 厘米，長38 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的佛獅燭臺，收藏於多倫多皇家安大略考古博物館，展覽於《The Arts of the Ming Dynasty》，1952年，頁30-1，編號213。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2019年11月27日，lot 3068
價格：HKD 175,000（相當於今日
EUR 22,000
）
描述：明三彩瑞獅形座
專家評論：比較相近的姿勢，以及非常相近的琥珀色和綠色釉面。請注意蓮花形容器和尺寸(52 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2006年3月29日，lot 428
價格：USD 42,000（相當於今日
EUR 59,000
）
描述：明代彩繪佛獅燭臺
專家評論：比較非常相近的姿勢、相似的怒吼表情，具有類似服飾的服裝和圓柱形支架。請注意不同的釉面和尺寸較大 (73.7 厘米)。