LARGE SELLETTE EN LAQUE TIANQI ET QIANJIN À DÉCOR D'UN DRAGON ET DE SON PETITXVIIIe siècle A LARGE TIANQI AND QIANGJIN 'DRAGON AND YOUNG' LACQUER STAND 18th century Of near square section, the top colourfully decorated with a central medallion of an adult dragon and young pursuing the flaming pearl above crashing waves and a gourd emanating lingzhi fungus shaped clouds with a bat in flight, framed by peony, lingzhi and lotus foliate and key-fret scrolls, all framed by archaistic chi -dragon scrolls, the rim with a key-fret above the waist with moulded relief decoration of foliate sprays above the beaded edge, supported on four cabriole legs connected with splayed aprons and decorated with foliate sections and relief-moulded leaf around each central edge terminating in a curled frond, decorated with continuous interlocking ruyi -heads and flowers with further floral sprays along the legs, all raised on a slightly splayed base-frame with short supports. 68.1cm (26 3/4in) wide x 66.2cm (26 1/16in) deep x 50.6cm (19 15/16in) high. Provenance: C.T. Loo, Paris (Label) Robert Rousset, Paris (1901-1981) Jean-Pierre Rousset, Paris (1936-2021) Notable for its elegant and sweeping form, the present stand is meticulously decorated with intricate floral designs and a central roundel containing a larger and smaller dragon. The motif of an adult and young dragon seems to have been favoured particularly by the Qianlong emperor and has been interpreted as conveying the message of the father teaching his son the ways of life, and within the Imperial family, that of the emperor giving lessons to the prince. Stands of similar form to the present example were used in both religious and secular contexts to hold incense burners or flower vases. These objects were designed with great attention to detail and form, pleasing the eye from any angle. For a detailed discussion about the form of incense stands, see S.Handler, Austere Luminosity of Chinese Classical Furniture , Berkeley and Los Angeles, 2001, pp.295-302. See a related but taller gilt polychrome lacquer 'elephant' incense stand, 18th century, which was sold at London, 16 May 2019, lot 75. 十八世紀 填漆嵌金「蒼龍教子」香几 來源： 巴黎古董商盧芹齋（標籤） 巴黎Robert Rousset（1901-1981）舊藏 巴黎Jean-Pierre Rousset（1936-2021）舊藏