A CHINESE BAMBOO FIGURE OF SHOULAO

17TH/18TH CENTURY

The God of Longevity carved seated on a rocky pedestal, depicted dressed in long robes with a cheerful expression on his face, he holds a branch of lingzhi in his left hand, with three boys at his feet, one holds a bowl of peaches, another supports the third child who raises a bat up towards Shoulao, with a crouching deer to the reverse, 17.7cm.

Cf. J Chi, Uncanny Ingenuity and Celestial Feats, The Carvings of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Bamboo, Wood, and Fruit Stones, pp.87-88, no.21 for a related 18th century bamboo figure of Shoulao seated on rockwork with one child at his feet; see also Christie's Hong Kong, 27th May 2008, lot 1887 for another comparable carving depicting Shoulao with many boys.