Lot 175. A pair of unusual bronze figural pricket candlesticks, 17th century; 12¼ in. (31 cm.) high. Estimate GBP 10,000 - GBP 15,000. Price realised GBP 20,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2010 

Each cast as a kneeling foreigner with curly hair and scowling expression, wearing a shawl, a sash tied around his bare torso, elaborate inset necklace, a skirt and stiff apron tied around the hips, with one hand on the knee and the other raised to support the drip pan, connected to a smaller drip-pan with a cylindrical shaft detailed with a coiled dragon, all on an openwork hexagonal base, with a brownish-olive patina.

A very similar single candlestick with a foreigner was sold in our New York Rooms, 19 March 2008, lot 333. 

An unusual bronze figural pricket candlestick, Late Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century; 10¾ in. (27.3 cm.) high. Estimate USD 10,000 - USD 15,000. Price realised USD 10,000 at Christie's New York, 19 March 2008, lot 333. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.  

Hollow cast as a kneeling foreigner with curly hair and scowling expression, wearing a shawl, a sash tied around his bare torso and a skirt and stiff apron tied around the hips, with right hand on his hip and left hand raised to support the barbed drip pan, all on an hexagonal base, with brownish-olive patina overall.