A Gilt-Bronze 'Recumbent Lion' Paperweight Mark and Period of Xuande

exquisitely cast in the form of a recumbent lion with its head turned to the right, with alert eyes showing an intense gaze, framed by thick coiling eyebrows below four characteristic bumps on the forehead, its curling mane incised with fine details, the muscled body meticulously incised overall to represent the softness and fullness of the fur, the limber arched body accentuated by a ridged spine, terminating at a bushy tail wrapping around its right hind leg, the underside cast with a four-character raised reign mark in regular script within a slightly curved cartouche

The overall condition is very good. There are some scratches, dents, typical wear and areas of oxidation (especially to the underside). The extremities show patches of pitting.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This outstanding gilt-bronze figure of a recumbent lion is one of a small number of high quality paperweights dating to the early Ming dynasty. Heavily cast and intricately modelled with varying layers of relief delineating the animal in full naturalistic detail and richly gilded, it is in itself a masterpiece of early Ming craftsmanship, not to be confused with the large number of later Ming wares bearing apocryphal Xuande marks.

For another Xuande reign-marked example from the Xiaogushan Guan studio collection, see Rochers de lettrés, Itinéraires de l'Art en Chine, Musée des Arts Asiatiques Guimet, Paris, 2012, cat. no. 58. For other gilt-bronze wares cast with genuine Xuande reign marks, see the gilt-bronze incense burner and cover in the form of a duck, offered here as lot 85, and the essay. Compare also a Xuande reign-marked 'dragon' incense burner, sold in these rooms, 5th October 2011, lot 1943, where, as in the current piece, the quality and weight of the casting, boldness of the detailing and brilliance of the gilding, distinguish it from later interpretations.

Paperweights in the form of animal figures have their origin in mat weights from antiquity. For a pair of Western Han silver-inlaid bronze weights in the form of tigers, preserved in the Miho Museum in Japan, see Ancient Art from the Shumei Family Collection, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1986, cat. no. 65. For another early Ming dynasty bronze 'lion' paperweight, partially gilt and inlaid with semi-precious, preserved in the Victoria & Albert Museum (Salting Bequest, M.741-1910), see Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, London, 1990, p.88, pl.72. The V & A example shares several features with the current lot, notably similar modelling in the round, detailed layering of the flaming mane, knobbed spine and proud, alert facial features. See also a Yuan / early Ming dynasty gilt-bronze and hardstone-inlaid paperweight in the form of two young chilong depicted in confrontation, sold in these rooms, 31st October 2004, lot 14, which is closely related to the current piece in terms of the bold and naturalistic articulation of the muscular body and fur, through varying layers of relief, and in the richness of the gilding. For a Ming dynasty jade paperweight, worked in the form of an imaginary beast with similar crouching posture and delineation of the mane and muscular body as the current piece, see Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, British Museum, London, 1995, cat. no. 26:17. 

For two stone pillars at the Ming Tombs of Changling, carved circa 1426, and surmounted by recumbent mythical beasts, the first of a qilin, the second of a recumbent lion with iconography closely related to the current lion, see Osvald Siren, Histoire des Arts Anciens de la Chine. III, La Sculpture de L'Époque Han à l'Époque Ming, Paris and Brussels, 1930, pls. 126C and 126D.