Page 139 - Fine Chinese, Japanese and Buddhist Art September 28, 2018 Galerie Zacke

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A LARGE WOOD FIGURE OF A DAOIST IMMORTAL, LATER SONG
– EARLIER MING DYNASTY
Carved of a single piece of solid hardwood, with remainders of original
lacquer and gesso painting in pigments of green, red and black
th
China, 13 -16 century
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The sage seated as a dignitary wearing an elaborately decorated,
layered cap of office, the face with a benevolent expression with
downcast eyes and a gentle smile. His beard is hanging down his chest,
he is wearing a band around his waist holding his elegant, flowing
robes falling into voluminous folds, the band is bound together by a
bow, one hand is resting on the bow, the other on his left knee.
This statue is particularly attractive for the soft and expressive
modelling of the figure’s facial features, which exudes a sense of
serenity and confidence. The simple and low-relief folds of his robes,
which fall in vertical parallel lines, are reminiscent of stone sculpture
and further emphasize the majesty of the dignitary.

Shape: Sculptural
Weight: 20,6 kilograms
Dimensions: Height 93 cm
Condition: Original unrestored condition. Age cracks, losses,
deterioration to backside. Still quite impressive condition given the age
of this statue
Provenance: Austrian private collection

Literature comparison: Compare with a similarly carved sculpture
of a female immortal with the hands concealed beneath a cloth,
included in the exhibition of Cultural Artifacts of Taoism, National
Museum of History, Taipei, 2006, p. 131. See also a wood figure of a
standing deity, attributed to the Northern Song period, illustrated in
Zhongguo meishu quanji. Diaosu bian [The complete series on Chinese
art. Sculpture], vol. 5, Beijing, 1988, pl. 84, together with a much
larger polychrome painted example, dressed in a similar robe, pl. 83.
Another wood figure of a seated female Daoist immortal, but of larger
size (152 cm. high) and dated to the Song dynasty, from the Liang-
sheng T’ang Collection is illustrated in Ancient Chinese Sculpture II,
Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan, 2000, p. 90, no. 35. Another
figure shown standing and dated to the Northern Song dynasty,
is illustrated in Zhongguo meishu quanji; diaosu bian; Wudai Song
diaosu, Beijing, 1988, vol. 5, p. 91, no. 84.

Auction result comparison: Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of
Art. Christies, New York, 17 September 2008, lot 383. (for another
wooden Daoist immortal, dated to the song dynasty, height 89 cm.)

⣏✳㖶ẋ㖑㛇㛐晽忻⢓⁷
⬴㔜䠔㛐晽⇣炻⍇㺮⼑⍲䞛儷⸽㕁䁢䵈ˣ䲭⍲湹刚
ᷕ⚳炻13军16ᶾ䲨
⑩䚠列⤥炻䃉ᾖ墄
⤏⛘⇑䥩Ṣ㓞啷
EstimateġEUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.000,-

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