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Hello,
I am hoping to learn more about this object from some of the experts in the Chinese bronze area.
Fine well pronounced details to the chi dragon and the scrolling clouds beneath him are found all around this solid cast bronze brushrest, including the snaking ridges all around him, there are 2 tiny upper and lower sets of teeth on him, his front claw, clenched shows details continuing to the underside where the narrow claws come to an end
the untouched areas, like the underside of the base have turned black. The rest of the statue has turned dark brown with black spotting.
L: 4 1/2"; 11.4 cm
thank you for looking

Kind regards,

Kevin

The theme of a dragon positioned on top of cloud scrolls has a long history in Chinese object art.

From the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, below is a link to a jade ornament from either the Tang or Liao Dynasty. Where the jade dragon in that example also walks above the scrolls (please copy and paste the lines into your browser if the url doesn't work, thank you)
https://www.artsy.net/artwork/tang-or-liao-dynasty-9th-10th-century-ce-openwork-ornament-in-the-shape-of-a-dragon-on-cloud-scrolls

Another cast bronze example of a dragon strutting above cloud scrolls was sold at Bonhams, Edinburgh, on March 21, 2018 in their Asian Art sale. The lot was described as A BRONZE 'CHILONG DRAGON' BRUSH REST, late Ming, lot # 263
Although in general they are very similar to one another in appearance in a comparison of the 2 bronzes, they were not cast from the same mold as there are some noticeable differences between them in the detailing, i.e. the shape of the scrolling cloud base looking at each from the underside is different, the patina, although both have blackened with age, one has considerable amount of bronze disease. The top of the neck of the present example has a greater arch to it with the head of the dragon tilting to the right towards the viewer more so than with the other. it also has a well defined upper set of small teeth which is absent from the other, the tail shape is more curvy, rather than straight; the forward front foot was brought up higher with a greater arch to the leg than with the other one.

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24749/lot/263/

Please copy and paste the lines into your browser if the url doesn't work

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