A CHINESE SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF CAO GUOJIU

A CHINESE SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF CAO GUOJIU
18TH CENTURY

The Daoist Immortal is depicted standing with his heard turned slightly to the left, holding gilt castanets and wearing his flowing court robes decorated with dragons showing traces of old gilding, raised on a black stone plinth decorated with floral scrolls and diaper, 18.3cm, 24.2cm overall.

Provenance: from an English private collection, London.

Cao Guojiu is one of the Eight Immortals and the patron of actors. His name translates as 'Royal Cousin Cao', and he is thought to have been the brother of an Empress Cao of the Song dynasty. He is usually depicted wearing official's dress and his attribute is the castanets.

十八世紀 壽山石雕曹國舅像
來源：英國倫敦私人收藏。