Lot 505. A green-glazed tripod censer, Han dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.); 19.7 cm diameter. Price Realised EUR 1,270 (Estimate EUR 800 - EUR 1,200) © Christie's Image Ltd 2026

The dating of this lot is consistent with the thermoluminescence test, Oxford, no. 566k72, 29 October 1990.
 

Provenance: Previously in the collection of Michel Duchange, acquired before 1990, thence by descent in the family.

Lot 506. A green-glazed pottery cylindrical vessel and cover, boshanzun, Han dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.); 28.8 cm high. Price Realised EUR 1,397 (Estimate EUR 1,000 - EUR 2,000) © Christie's Image Ltd 2026
 

The dating of this lot is consistent with the thermoluminescence test, Oxford, no. 566k82, 29 October 1990.
 

Provenance: Previously in the collection of Michel Duchange, acquired before 1990, thence by descent in the family.

Lot 503. A brown-glazed cut away carved peony decorated vase, Song dynasty, 12th-13th century; 34 cm high. Price Realised EUR 1,397 (Estimate EUR 2,000 - EUR 3,000) © Christie's Image Ltd 2026

Provenance: Previously from a French private collection, appraised by Michel Beurdeley and Guy Raindre, Paris, 26 November 1991, no. 1.

Lot 504. A Cizhou 'Lotus' pillow, Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234); 28.5 cm wide. Price Realised EUR 38,100 (Estimate EUR 1,500 - EUR 2,000) © Christie's Image Ltd 2026

Provenance: Previously from a French private collection, appraised by Michel Beurdeley and Guy Raindre, Paris, 26 November 1991, no. 8.

Lot 563. A Ding cup stand, Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234); 12.6 cm wide, leather box. Price Realised EUR 5,334 (Estimate EUR 4,000 - EUR 6,000) © Christie's Image Ltd 2026

Provenance: Collection of Dr. Maurin, Ader Picard Tajan, 16–18 March 1987, lot 42.

Lot 564. A Junyao dish, Song-Jin dynasty, 12th-13th century; 18 cm diameter. Price Realised EUR 9,525 (Estimate EUR 4,000 - EUR 6,000) © Christie's Image Ltd 2026

Lot 507. A Fahua 'Floral' jar, Ming dynasty, 16th century; 10.8 cm high, gilt-bronze mount. Price Realised EUR 1,143 (Estimate EUR 600 - EUR 800) © Christie's Image Ltd 2026
 

Provenance: Previously in the collection of Michel Duchange, acquired before 1990, thence by descent in the family.

Lot 570. A small Longquan celadon luduan-form censer and cover, Ming dynasty, 16th century; 13.8 cm high, Japanese wooden box. Price Realised EUR 3,810 (Estimate EUR 4,000 - EUR 6,000) © Christie's Image Ltd 2026
 

Provenance: Bonhams London, Fine Chinese Art, 12 May 2016, lot 57.
 

Note: The mythical luduan, also recorded in early texts as jiaoduan, appears in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), in the biography of Sima Xiangru, which states: “Among beasts are the qilin and the jiaoduan.” Guo Pu later described it as “resembling a pig, with a horn upon its nose, suitable for making bows.” From the Song and Yuan periods onward, the iconography of the luduan gradually became standardised, typically represented as a mythical beast with a single horn and a leonine body, seated upright with an alert posture, and associated with wisdom, discernment, and auspiciousness.
 

The present incense burner takes the form of a luduan, its hollow body designed to contain incense, with fragrant smoke emerging through the mouth, combining practical function with refined aesthetic appeal as a scholar’s desk object. Longquan kilns, celebrated from the Song through the Ming and Qing periods for their rich and lustrous celadon glazes, produced wares prized for their jade-like quality. The present example displays a soft bluish-green glaze of pleasing translucency and depth, characteristic of later Longquan production.

Christie's. Arts of Asia, Paris, 29 May – 12 June 2026