Minneapolis Institute of Art

Two-piece Candlestick, one of a pair

China

Date

early 17th century

Medium

Bronze

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This rare set of large, bronze candlesticks is cast at its base in the form of foreigners kneeling in mirror image on stepped stands. During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), foreigners were ocassionally depicted in the decorative arts. They were typically shown with curling hair, bushy brows over bulging eyes, large noses, and moustaches like those shown here. They wear Chinese style robes with raised chest medallions, aprons, and boots. Foliate drip pans with baluster-shaped sockets cast with a coiled dragon are balanced on the men's heads. The separate candleholders of flared cylindrical form are each decorated with a four-clawed scaly dragon in high relief chasing a flaming pearl among the clouds. Each of the four components is cast with a four-character inscription reading the seal of Tung Wen-te. Paired candlesticks typically flanked incense burners on most types of altar tables during the Ming and Ch'ing dynasties (1368-1911). China, Asia

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