Lot 3439. A rare gilt-bronze 'mythical beast' waterdropper, mark and period of Xuande(1426-1435);11.6 cm, 4 1/2  in. Estimate 700,000 — 900,000 HKD. Lot sold 875,000 HKD (111,615 USD). Courtesy Sotheby's.

skilfully cast in the form of a recumbent mythical beast with a gently upturned head, portrayed ferocious with piercing eyes set with glass paste above a prominent snout, the body masterfully rendered with powerful claws and muscular limbs, the sides emblazoned with flame-like hair, the hollow body set with a small circular opening on the back encircled with a section of its bifurcated tail, the mouth with a further small aperture flanked by its fangs, the underside with a four-character reign mark within a curved recessed rectangular panel.

Note: While a small group of gilt-bronze scholar’s objects from the Xuande period exists, the quality of the casting, boldness of the detailing and brilliance of the gilding distinguishes this embellished waterdropper from its peers. The Xuande reign mark on this gilt-bronze waterdropper is superbly articulated. It is clearly an independently conceived piece, produced as a unique example or as a small number for the Xuande court.

In terms of form, it is closely related to its jade counterparts; see a waterdropper in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, worked in the form of a beast with similar crouching posture and muscular body as the current piece, attributed to the 16th century and included in Ming Wilson, Chinese Jades, London, 2004, no. 65 (museum no. C.144-1913).

Water pot in the shape of a mythical animal "bixie", 16th century. Nephrite jade with carved decoration, and wooden stand. Length: 15.5 cm. C.144-1913. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

The museum also has an early Ming dynasty bronze paperweight modelled as a beast with comparable proud, alert facial features, partially gilt and inlaid with semi-precious stones, illustrated in Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, London, 1990, p. 88, pl. 72 (Salting Bequest, museum no. M.741-1910). See also a Yuan to early Ming dynasty gilt-bronze and hardstone-inlaid paperweight in the form of two young mythical beasts depicted in confrontation, sold in these rooms, 31st October 2004, lot 14, which is closely related to the current piece in terms of the bold and naturalistic articulation of the muscular body and fur, through varying layers of relief. See also a Xuande reign-marked paperweight from the Xiaogushan Guan studio collection, in the form of a crouching beast with similar curly mane, included in Rochers de lettrés, Itinéraires de l'Art en Chine, Musée des Arts Asiatiques Guimet, Paris, 2012, cat. no. 58, and a gilt-bronze incense burner and cover in the form of a xiezhi mythical beast, sold in these rooms, 8th April 2014, lot 233, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection

Bronze figure of a Buddhist lion, 15th century-16th century. Gilded bronze, inlaid with semi-precious stones. Length: 9 cm. Salting Bequest, M.741-1910. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

A Gilt-Bronze 'Mythical Beast' Incense Burner and Cover, Cast Mark and Period of Xuande; 16 cm., 6 1/4  in. Sold for 4,240,000 HKD at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8th April 2014, lot 233, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection. Photo Sotheby's. 

Sotheby's. Gems of Chinese Art – The Speelman Collection II, Hong Kong, 03 oct. 2018