Pair of Brass Lotus Leaf Candle Stands

These brass candlesticks were cast with a fantastic sculptural form and are a beautiful example of Chinese metalwork. The scalloped candle dish is shaped like a delicate lotus leaf, floating above a lotus blossom shoulder and a tripod base. Each leg of the base is comprised of a bat-like creature with a curled tongue or flame unfurling from its mouth. The unusual beast may be a reference to the mythical bashe dragon, a serpentine creature that swallows elephants whole.