Page 95 - Wolly & Wallace, July 1, 2020 Chinese Works of Art UK

100
A CHINESE BRONZE ‘LAOZI AND
BUFFALO’ INCENSE BURNER
AND COVER
17 CENTURY
TH
The cover formed as Laozi wearing loose-fitting
robes, he sits upon the back of a recumbent
water buffalo holding a ruyi sceptre in his right
hand, the animal depicted with its head raised
and mouth agape revealing its tongue, detailed
with swirling tufts of hair to its forehead, 21.8cm,
1.3kg. (2)
£2,000-3,000
Provenance: from an Asian private collection.
Laozi was a semi-legendary philosopher and is
regarded as the founder of Daoism. According
to legend, Laozi became disillusioned with the
corruptness at the Zhou dynasty court and
abandoned his position there as a record keeper.
He rode away on a water buffalo to the West, only
to be recognised by a border official at the Hangu
Pass who asked him to write down his wisdom. It is
believed that what he wrote became the Daodejing,
the sacred text of Daoism.
十七世紀 銅老子出山薰
來源：亞洲私人收藏。

101
A CHINESE BRONZE ‘WATER BUFFALO’
WATER DROPPER
17 CENTURY
TH
Formed as a standing water buffalo with its head
turned to sinister, its ribs and hair finely detailed,
with apertures to its spine and open mouth,
together with a Japanese wood box and cover,
14cm, 359g.
£2,000-3,000
Provenance: from an Asian private collection.
十七世紀 銅水牛水滴
來源：亞洲私人收藏。

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