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

China, 13th-16th century

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.)

大型明代早期木雕道士像
完整硬木雕刻，原漆彩及石膏底料為綠、紅及黑色
中國，13至16世紀
品相良好，無修補
奧地利私人收藏