A FINE AND RARE PAIR OF GILT-BRONZE GUARDIANS, China, late Ming/early Qing dynasty, both standing in firm posture with legs slightly apart on a separate cast rocky base, one holding halberd, the other sword, both wearing comparable armour, tunic with floating sleeves, skirt, scarf draped around their shoulders, encircling the arms with its finials falling on the base before curling up in a swirl, boots, their faces displaying severe expressions with raised bushy eyebrows, the hair combed in a double bun on top of their head and secured with an elaborate diadem - Property from an important South German private collection, bought prior 1990 - Minor wear, very slightly chipped, attributes partly replaced