Gilt Bronze Qilin Figure with Apocryphal Mark, 19th/20th Century

A gilt bronze figure of a qilin, 19th/20th century, recumbent…
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A gilt bronze figure of a Qilin, 19th/20th century, recumbent with head turned over its back, the features and scaly body well defined, the base incised with an apocryphal four-character mark of Qianlong, stand, 8.2 cm long

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  • Incised - A record of a name, date or inscription, or a decoration scratched into a surface, usually of a glass or ceramic item with a blunt instrument to make a coarse indentation. Compare with engraving where the surface is cut with a sharp instrument such as a metal needle or rotating tool to achieve a fine indentation.
  • Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.

    The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.

    It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
  • Kylin or Qilin - A kylin or qilin is a mythical Chinese animal, dating back to the 5th century with the head of a dragon, the body of a deer and the tail of a lion. It is a regarded as a good omen bringing serenity and prosperity, and is said to appear with the coming or departure of a wise sage or illustrious ruler.

    It is also part of the culture of Korea and Japan.

    As well as being represented in bronze and jade, it is also used as a decorative motif on ceramics.

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