DATED TO THE THIRD YEAR OF CHONGZHEN, CORRESPONDING TO 1630

Details

AN INSCRIBED AND DATED BRONZE FIGURE OF ZHENWU
DATED TO THE THIRD YEAR OF CHONGZHEN, CORRESPONDING TO 1630
The figure is cast seated with his hands on his knees and detailed with a tortoise and snake between his feet. He is depicted wearing long flowing robes which are incised with flower and cloud motifs, and his serene expression is framed by pendulous ears. The inscription on the back of the figure dates the figure to 'an auspicious day in the third year of Chongzhen', corresponding to the year 1630.
9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm.) high, wood stand

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Lot Essay

Zhenwu, also known as the Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven, is almost always depicted with a tortoise entwined with a snake which symbolises the North in the Five Phases cosmology. He was extremely popular during the Ming dynasty and was worshipped for his martial prowess and powers of exorcism and curing illnesses.

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