A pair of Qilin unicorn incense burners

The qilin, identified with the European unicorn, is one of the most important mythological animals in China. It was supposed to be an animal with the body of a deer covered with fish scales, the head of a dragon with a horn (or horns), the legs and hooves of a horse and the tail of an ox. Despite its menacing appearance, it was considered a creature friendly to people. According to Chinese tradition, qilinas were only seen during the reign of wise and just monarchs, which is why they were a favorite subject of court artists and craftsmen. It is a symbol of longevity, order and harmony, and also expresses the wish to have children. One of the qilin has an open mouth, the other has a closed one. In this way they symbolize the beginning and the end. The art of applying enamel to metal products is a difficult technique that requires precision and patience from the craftsman. On the surface of a metal object, the craftsman-enamelier must prepare cavities or cells to be filled with enamel. The enamel mass consists of a mixture of powdered minerals (sand, chalk, clay), fluxes (borax), pigments (metal oxides) and water. Each cavity is filled separately with enamel mass, usually in the form of paste. After filling the cells with it, the object is fired in a special furnace at a temperature of approximately 800–900°C. Under the influence of temperature, the enamel mass melts, filling the cells and sticking to the body. However, the mass evaporates and shrinks, so the application of enamel and firing must be repeated many times until the mass "overflows". After cooling, the surface of the vessel is polished to a high shine using stones. This treatment highlights the pattern created by cells carefully filled with colored enamel.