Until 31st Mar, 2025
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AN UNUSUAL SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF LI TIEGUAI, QING DYNASTY
Lot 112 - HS1224
Expert’s note: The vibrant shadings of this stone have been masterfully exploited by the lapidary, showcasing an extraordinary skill rarely seen in figures of this size. The head displays a luminous honey-gold hue of “tianhuang” stone, which dramatically transitions into an intense, deep red “chicken blood” color, interspersed with delicate pale inclusions and veins that add further visual complexity. The striking contrast between the vivid tones highlights the master’s remarkable ingenuity in selecting and carving the stone, cleverly emphasizing its natural beauty and ensuring the excentric colors complement the contours of the piece. This level of craftsmanship strongly suggests an earlier creation, reflecting both artistic sophistication and the rarity of soapstone of this purity and quality.
China, 1644-1912. Exquisitely carved as Li Tieguai standing on rockwork, dressed in loose robes incised and gilt with clouds, holding a double gourd in his right hand and his iron crutch in his left while carrying a fish, a straw hat, and a cloth over his shoulders, and with a basket to his feet. The face neatly rendered with long beard and hair tied in a knot framing the face which shows a gentle expression and calm smile.
Provenance: From an English private collector, who has been living in Beijing since the 1970s.
Condition: Very good condition with expected ancient wear and few natural fissures, some of which have developed into thin hairline cracks. Small nicks here and there.
Weight: 413 g
Dimensions: Height 13.2 cm
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s London, 4 November 2008, lot 46
Price: GBP 12,500 or approx. EUR 27,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A soapstone figure of a seated Luohan, 17th/18th century
Expert remark: Compare the related color of the stone and the fine incision work. Note the smaller size (11 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 9 November 2023, lot 101
Estimate: GBP 4,000 or approx. EUR 4,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Chinese soapstone figure of a scholar, Qing Dynasty, 18th-19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related manner of carving and mottled stone. Note the size (16 cm).
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