Page 382 - Sotheby's October 3 2017 Chinese Art

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A LARGE CARVED BAMBOO 清康熙 竹根雕壽老童子
‘SHOULAO, BOYS AND DEER’
GROUP 來源：
QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD 傳歐洲名藏
斯圖加特納高2005年6月6日，編號192
superbly carved as Shoulao seated astride a deer
and holding one antler with the right hand and
a peach with the left, all supported on jagged
rockwork with small floral blooms issuing at
the front and a bat on the reverse, the group
rendered with two boys, one depicted holding
lingzhi sprigs with both hands and looking up
at the immortal, the other standing behind the
rear of the deer and holding with both hands
a long staff suspending a double gourd, the
immortal further rendered clad in loose robes
and portrayed with his characteristic protruding
forehead and an endearingly warm smile, the
patina of a rich dark reddish-brown colour
35.8 cm, 14 in.

PROVENANCE

A distinguished European collection, by repute.
Nagel Stuttgart, 6th June 2005, lot 192.

HK$ 700,000-900,000
US$ 89,500-116,000

Bamboo figures of this impressive large size deity. One of the Three Star Gods (Sanxing),
are rare and the present example is particularly Shoulao represents the south pole in Chinese
notable for its meticulous carving. The bold cuts astronomy and is associated with longevity;
used to depict the figure’s clothing and rockwork, hence he is often portrayed holding a peach of
as well as the highly expressive rendering of the immortality and riding a deer.
immortal’s facial features, are characteristic
of Kangxi period bamboo carvings. In the Qing A smaller figure of Shoulao riding a deer, from
dynasty the number of bamboo masters reached the collection of Dr Ip Yee, was included in the
a peak in Jiading as well as in other centres in exhibition Chinese Bamboo Carving, Hong Kong
southern China, including Suzhou and Hangzhou Museum of Art, Hong Kong, pt. I, 1978, pl. 24;
in Jiangsu and Gui’an and Haining in Zhejiang another was sold in our London rooms, 1st/2nd
province. While the majority of their products November 1984, lot 304; and a third, attributed to
consisted of utilitarian vessels for the scholar’s the 18th century, was sold at Christie’s New York,
desk, a small number of bamboo figures, such as 19th September 2007, lot 20.
this piece, was made for display.

Bamboo carvers of the Qing dynasty often took
inspiration from religious and popular stories
and woodblock-print books. This charming piece
depicts the God of Longevity, Shoulao, as an old
man with a long beard and a tall domed forehead,
a portrayal that first developed in the Ming period
and quickly became closely associated with the

380 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比