Couple of enamel cloisonnè Qilin

Couple of Qilin
Enamel cloisonnè and resting on wooden bases

Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Emperor Period (1760-1820)
Dimensions without bases cm: 20 height x 31 length x 9 depth (31x24x13 cm included base)

Fantastic animal or Chinese unicorn, it is represented initially with the body of a deer covered with scales, the head similar to that of the dragon and equipped with a horn, the tail of an ox, thin legs and hooves of a horse. Later the head became that of a dragon with two horns and the curly and bushy tail like that of a Buddhist lion. Its skin is five colors: red, yellow, blue, white and black; the belly is yellow. The joints, often flaming, indicate his divine essence.

In Taoist mythology he is one of the four supernatural creatures, along with the dragon, the phoenix and the turtle. It is considered as the noblest and most perfect form of all animals, emblem of elegance, goodness, virtue, wise administration and numerous offspring. It walks without stepping on the grass or any living being and its gait is so light that it does not cause any noise and does not leave any marks.

It is said that it reaches one thousand years and that its appearance is an auspicious omen and a sign of good governance or the coming of a sage. The Qilin was embroidered on the court clothes of high-ranking officials and stone statues of such animals flanked the shendao or «Way of the Spirits», that is, the avenue of access to the burial mausoleums.