A FINE SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF MANJUSRI
Signed Yuxuan, 17th century
The stately figure posed in deep meditation in elegantly draped robes and leaning on his recumbent lion, a ruyi scepter resting across his right arm and left hand lying on his knee, his facial features and hairwork sensitively rendered with fine detail and set off by the exquisite floral borders of his robe, the handsome variegated colors of the stone used to highlight select details of the carving, signed Yuxuan on the back of the robe in clerical script.
2 7/8in (7.3cm) high
Footnotes:
十七世紀 《玉璿》隸書刻款 壽山石文殊坐像

Provenance:
Collection of M.C. Wang, formed between the 1940s and the early 2000s

來源：
王孟鐘舊藏，藏品集成于1940-2000年間

Yang Yuxuan was one of the greatest soapstone carvers of the 17th century. Born in Zhangpu, Fujian, he spent most of his life in Fuzhou. His works are characterized by brilliant detail work, a mastery of capturing the essence of his subject, and his selection of material to enhance its overall effect.

See Gerald Tsang and Hugh Moss. Arts from the Scholar's Studio, The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong and the Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, 1986, p. 86, fig. 45, also with a clerical script signature.

PLEASE NOTE: This report describes, but may not be limited to, major condition issues for the lot.



Overall in very good condition. Carving is compact with clever use of natural stone colors; excellent details picked out by incised lines filled in black. Two tiny pearls inlaid to the collar still intact. The highly polished stone with natural inclusions and vines, most significantly by the left foot extending diagonally Manjusri's body, and at the lion's snout and claws.



Shallow nicks to the edge of Manjusri's right sleeve and the lion's right brow. A tiny indent to the back, upper-left of carved signature. Scratches and wears to the bottom.



Inscription is beautifully executed. A very good example with all the natural wear as expected.