Signature de Shang Jun au dos.
Hauteur: 20 cm. (7⁷⁄₈ in.)

Private French Collection, assembled in the latter half of the 20th century, then by descent within the family (by repute).

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Lot Essay

The signature bears an incised four-character seal mark reading Gu Fo He Long, and an incised six-character inscription to the reverse that may be translated as "made with worship by the disciple Shang Jun". Zhou Bin, also known as Shang Jun, was a native of Zhangzhou in Fujian province and was a renowned carver thought to have been active in the Kangxi period (1662-1722).
Guandi, the God of War, is traditionally modelled wearing armour and is often portrayed with a red face and a long beard. Here, the carver has cleverly utilised the natural dark red inclusions in the stone for the red face. The three holes on his chin would originally have held his beard. The facial features and the details on his armour are all finely incised.

Post Lot Text

A SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF GUANDI
CHINA, QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY