Paperweight in the form of a Qilin
Not on view
The Qilin is a mythical creature thought to appear when a sage ruler comes to the throne. This exquisitely cast bronze example served as an auspicious ornament or paperweight on a Chinese scholar’s desk. The creature looks back to its proper left and reclines with all four feet tucked under its body. Its head features a beard, a central horn, and a flame like flowing mane—characteristics shared by early Ming dynasty depictions of dragons. The animal’s dense scales and ribbon like flames emanating from its upper legs are also attributes of Ming images of mythical animals. The surface of the bronze bears traces of red pigment, probably cinnabar, which was believed to have the magic property of warding off evils.
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