Monumental Chinese Cloisonné Pair of Lü Dongbin & Lan Caihe – Qing, 19th Century

Monumental Chinese cloisonné pair of Lü Dongbin and Lan Caihe

See the full research and appraisal dossier with more than 30 additional detail and microscope photographs:
Full appraisal & technical research →

China, Qing dynasty, 19th century, circa 1850–1900. A substantial pair representing two members of the Daoist Eight Immortals, worked in cloisonné enamel over heavy copper alloy/bronze with gilded metal elements.

Lü Dongbin: H 79 × W 29 cm; 20.8 kg
Lan Caihe: H 76 × W 34 cm; 20.2 kg
Combined weight: approximately 41 kg
Mark: 大清乾隆年製, six-character Qianlong reign mark, assessed here as apocryphal

Eight Immortals iconography

Lü Dongbin is shown as the bearded scholar in formal headgear, while Lan Caihe is distinguished by the flower basket and youthful animated stance. The red roundels scattered across the robes contain the An Baxian, the emblematic attributes of the Eight Immortals.

Enamel, gilding and patina

The enamel palette combines turquoise, red, yellow, green, blue, purple and white. The surfaces retain old abrasion, pitting, small enamel losses, surviving gilding and brown-green oxidation. The faces were re-gilded at a later date, contrasting with the earlier patina preserved on the necks, hair, hands and other exposed metal areas.

Dating and Qianlong mark

The rectangular plaque bears the six-character Qianlong inscription. The attribution does not rely on the mark itself: construction, technical execution, wear and style support a 19th-century date, circa 1850–1900.

Provenance

According to the transmitted history, the pair was already in Europe by the 1960s. It is said to have come from the inventory of a Chinese restaurant owner and subsequently remained in a single private collection for decades, until 2024.

Each object is examined before it is offered: material, casting or carving technique, surface, and signs of age are compared with documented references. You will receive a certificate of authenticity and an official invoice detailing the period, material, and available provenance.

How we verify authenticity

Fully insured worldwide shipping in museum-quality packaging. Returns are sent to our Dutch address and you have a 14-day cooling-off period.

Read the shipping policy and the refund policy.

Pay securely at checkout with credit card, Klarna, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. The certificate of authenticity and the invoice are included in the price.