A RARE BLUE AND WHITE KO-SOMETSUKE 'LUDUAN' INCENSE BURNER Early 17th century Robustly potted, the mythical beast standing four-square, with a bell at the chest and a curled upswept tail at the rear, the bulbous body painted in cobalt blue with large coin on each side on a scale-pattern ground, the chest decorated with prunus-flower heads on a speckled ground, standing on four scale-pattern legs, with a later metal cover, Japanese wood box. 11cm (4 3/8in) long. (3). Footnotes: Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價 十七世紀早期 青花甪端式薰爐 The present lot belongs to a select group of wares modelled in the form of luduan that were produced during the Wanli period. Luduan, an auspicious creature with the ability to traverse vast distances in a day and to master all languages, was said to appear only in areas where a virtuous leader was present. Compare with a related but larger blue and white incense burner and cover, in the form of a mythical beast, early 17th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, which was acquired from Sotheby's New York, 20 March 2018, lot 451. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com