Antique
Chinese Ivory Carving
Taoist Immortal
with Mongoose
Mid
Qing, Early 18th Century
H.
7 in.(18cm.), W. 2 in.(5cm.), D. 2in.(5cm.)
Measurement
not includes wood base
Condition:
Good, minor losses
This
is an ivory carving of a girl gently leaning to her right
while a small animal (sacred mongoose?) clings to a branch
above her shoulder. Below her waist, a winged bird takes flight
near a small branch held in her left hand... a theme more
commonly associated with Quan Yin Bodhisattva. The simplicity
of her peasant clothes suggest the girl is to be a common
mortal. However, her flowing ribbons and fairy like manner
indicated otherwise. It is more likely that the girl is a
fairy, a Daoist Immortal, or perhaps the reincarnation of
Quan Yin.
Carved
in a round, standing at 7.5" tall without a wood base, this
antique ivory statue is a fine specimen of the elegance of
stylized realism dating from the early Ming Dynasty (1368).
Under close observation, we believe that the well worn branch
under the mongoose, a ribbon to her left may have had a break
a long time ago. There is also a thin age crack in the back
of her hair and couple minor hairlines near the base. Otherwise,
the statue is relatively well preserved. With a beautifully
aged cream white patina, the ivory has a high handed smooth
finish, and a pleasantly accentuated grains of a high quality
elephant tusk.
Private
Collection
