Page 72 - Fine Asian Art, Bonhams San Francisco June 27, 2017

8097 8098

PROPERTY FROM A RENO PRIVATE COLLECTION, PROPERTY FROM VARIOUS OWNERS
PURCHASED IN SANTA FE IN 1991
8098
8097 A CAST BRONZE FIGURE OF A SAGE
A CAST BRONZE FIGURE OF ZHENWU 17th century
Dated by inscription to 1591 Dressed in layered garments and a scholar’s ribboned cap that
Identified by his bare feet and his long slicked-back hair, the Daoist covers the back of his bearded head, reading an opened scroll as he
god depicted seated in elaborately cast armor holding his left hand stands on an openwork rockery base.
in an unusual esoteric gesture on his knee, the reverse of his right 11in (28cm) high
shoulder incised to read Wanli shijiu nian ji with traces of additional
inscriptions reversing his left hip; showing minute traces of gilt and US$3,000 - 5,000
now supported by a replacement base.
16in (40.5cm) high The simplified mass of this figure’s beard as well as the edited folds
of his clothing recall similar conventions found in a set of Eight
US$5,000 - 7,000 Immortals on openwork stands (cat. no. 105, pp. 154-155) and a
solitary figure of Han Zhongli (cat. no. 109, p. 157) in the Museé
Cernuschi, ascribed to a 16th or 17th century date by Michel
Maucuer in Bronzes de la Chine impériale des Song aux Qing (Paris,
2013). It is possible that this figure may represent Laozi holding a
scroll, rather than one of the Eight Immortals.

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