The Zitan wood with its typical “crab claw” markings, its lustrous reddish dark purple appearance and its massive weight, attached to their bases by a long metal rod China, 18th-19th century The sticks boldly carved in high relief, partially reticulated, to depict two ferocious five-clawed dragons chasing the flaming pearl, their horns emerging from a flame-like mane, the fierce face detailed with round bulging eyes, flaring nostrils and long curly whiskers, with the mouth wide open revealing menacing teeth, their muscular limbs terminating in sharp claws, the scaly bodies coiling between multiple groups of densely carved clouds. The bases with tumultuous cresting waves. Shape: Candle sticks Dimensions: 57.5 cm (height) Weight: 3900 grams (total) Condition: Good, the sticks with minor nibbling, the bases with some chipping and remainders of wax, old varnishing Provenance: American private collection Literature comparison: Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Christies, New York, March 17th, 2017, lot1113. (for a ruyi-shaped box with a comparable design) Important Chinese Art. Sotheby’s, Hong Kong, October 3rd, 2017, lot 3712. (for a sutra box with a comparable design) 清代一對紫檀“雙龍”燭臺 紫檀，具有典型的蟹爪紋，光澤沉著，密度大，附靠在一根金屬長杆上 中國，十八至十九世紀 紫檀木被大膽地浮雕成雙龍戲珠，龍角從火焰般的鬃毛中隱隱可見，凶悍的臉上眼睛炯炯有神，火紅的鼻孔和長長的捲曲鬍鬚，嘴巴大張，露出尖利的牙齒，四肢肌肉强勁有力，龍爪鋒利，龍鱗捲繞在密密麻麻的雲層之間。 底座上可見洶湧波濤。 燭臺形 尺寸：高 57.5 cm 重：縂重 3900 克 品相良好，表面有磕碰，底座有些碎屑和余臘，舊漆 美國私人收藏 文獻收藏：佳士得《中國精美陶瓷與工藝品》，紐約，2017年3月17日，1113號拍品（一個類似雕刻的如意形盒）以及蘇富比《重要中國藝術》，香港，2017年10月3日，3712號拍品（一個相似雕刻的佛經盒）