A rare paperweight in the form of a recumbent Tianlu, Qilin or Xiezhi, a dragon-like bronze figurine.
Ming / early Qing Dynasty, 17th century.
Solidly cast, this miniature sculpture of a mythical beast is finely carved with rich details.
Probably it was used as a paperweight or brush rest on a scholar's desk.
One foreleg partly lost, other leg with crack. Impressive brownish golden bronze patina.
reference: Paul Bromberg, Later Cinese Bronze Paperweights, Arts of Asia, Autumn 2021, pp. 60 - 74 (highly recommended)
dimensions: 37 mm x 15 mm x 37 mm
weight: 43.5 g
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