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Lot 71

A RARE BAMBOO CARVING OF DONGFANG SHUO
17th/18th century

14 May 2025, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £38,400 inc. premium

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A RARE BAMBOO CARVING OF DONGFANG SHUO

17th/18th century
Finely carved as the Daoist Immortal Dongfang Shuo, dressed in loosely draped robes left open at the chest and secured at the waist with a sash from which a double-gourd hanging at the back, the figure seated reclining on rockwork, with his left hand holding a leafy sprig of peach, detailed with a jovial expression, wrinkles on the forehead, and finely incised beard and hair, at his feet placed a basket containing two peaches.
17.2cm (6 3/4in) high.

Footnotes

十七/十八世紀 竹雕東方朔坐像

Provenance: Acquired in London in the 1970's (collector's notes)

來源: 1970年代獲得於倫敦(藏家筆記)

Dongfang Shuo 東方朔, a legendary scholar and wit, served at the Court of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty. Celebrated for his sharp intellect and mischievous humour, he became a symbol of quick thinking and ingenuity. He is also closely linked to the 'Peaches of Immortality,' as folklore recounts that he stole these mythical fruits from the garden of the Queen Mother of the West, elevating him to a semi-divine status in Chinese culture. His tales often emphasise his cunning and playfulness, making him a cherished figure in Chinese literature and art, where he embodies both wisdom and the quest for Immortality.

Compare with a similar bamboo carving of Dongfang Shuo, Kangxi, illustrated by S.Kwan, Ming and Qing Bamboo, Hong Kong, 2000, pp.278-279, no.66. Another related bamboo carving of Dongfang Shuo, Qing dynasty, in the Shanghai Museum, is illustrated in Literati Spirit: Art of Chinese Bamboo Carving, Shanghai, 2012, p.114-115, no.51. Another, mid-Qing dynasty, is illustrated in Ibid., pp.129, no.59. See also a related bamboo carving of Dongfang Shuo with peaches, Qing dynasty, in the Qing Court Collection, Palace Museum, Beijing (acc.no.故00120185).

Additional information

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