A CHINESE SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF A DAOIST IMMORTAL, 19TH CENTURY

Finely carved in variegated soapstone, depicting a Daoist Immortal seated amidst a dramatically sculpted rocky landscape. The figure is shown with a serene, smiling expression, elongated earlobes and finely incised facial hair, wearing flowing robes elaborately decorated with scrolling and floral motifs. He holds a long carved attribute across his body, while a small bird-like or feathered form is modelled behind his shoulder. The Immortal is surrounded by jagged mountain rocks, naturalistically rendered in contrasting tones of cream, grey, brown and reddish soapstone. The highly sculptural base is pierced and deeply carved to create a sense of a mountainous grotto. The reverse is similarly worked, with finely incised decoration to the robes and extensive naturalistic modelling of the rock formations. 17 by 17 by 5 cm.

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