A rare bronze (copper & tin alloy) incense burner in the form of a Qilin made in China during the late Ming period.
Condition: the cover is missing and there is a small hole in the base; there is copper oxidation inside the tail and there are traces of the original black lacquer coating between its scales and in some of the recesses.
15cm / 6 inches high; 15 cm / 6 inches across