A FINELY CARVED BAMBOO-ROOT FIGURE OF A DAOIST IMMORTAL QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

boldly carved as an immortal sitting on convoluted rockwork forming his seat and armrest, his bearded face with a serene expression and flanked by long pendulous earlobes, adorned in a hat and loose flowing robes revealing his emaciated ribs, grasping a gnarled lingzhi stem with his left hand with his right hand placed on the rocky armrest, set with a basket below the armrest with a large lingzhi bloom stemming from within, the stippled surface of a warm caramel-brown colour

Sotheby's London, 2nd December 1997, lot 86.

Good overall condition, with just minor surface wear to the extremities, and a minor split to the underside. The base has two circular holes where it was formerly mounted on a stand.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This superb work of art represents the apex of quality of bamboo figural carvings created by master artisans in the early Qing dynasty. It compares favourably with another figure of the same size from the Qing Court collection, preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 42. Both figures portray a Daoist immortal depicted seated bearing a basket of lingzhi fungus. Their skilfully defined physiognomy, attributes, and even the folds of their robes are all superbly picked out in dynamic cuts.

For another bamboo figure of a Daoist sage of comparable quality, see Wang Shixiang, Zhuke Jianshang, Taipei, 1997, pp. 62-63, pl. 16.