Beschreibung:

A VERY RARE PAIR OF PAINTED ENAMEL 'LION' CANDLE-HOLDERS
GUANGZHOU, YONGZHENG/EARLY QIANLONG PERIOD, CIRCA 1730-1740
A VERY RARE PAIR OF PAINTED ENAMEL 'LION' CANDLE-HOLDERS GUANGZHOU, YONGZHENG/EARLY QIANLONG PERIOD, CIRCA 1730-1740 Each in the form of a buddhistic lion with right forepaw resting on an attribute, one on a compressed globular ball painted with foliate scroll, the other a small rectangular stand with spreading circular base, each with whimsical expression as it looks forward with teeth bared and eyes wide open below bushy brows, the body with repoussé ears, mane and tail curled over the left rear haunch, the body delicately painted in shades of yellow and reddish-brown with segmented fur and rows of whorls along the backbone, the head of each surmounted by a pear-shaped vessel painted with foliate scroll and applied with rows of projecting leaves, the upper four leaves supporting a wax pan shaped as an open lotus blossom with everted petals rising from a stippled yellow center 9½ in. (24 cm.) high (2)