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Lot Essay
Worshiped by many believers in their popular cults, Magu is one of the most popular Daoist female deity in Chinese mythology.
Associated with the elixir of life, she is often depicted as an elegant beautiful lady carrying a Longevity peach and accompanied by a deer and Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West. In our present sculpture, Magu is recognizable by her elongated birdlike fingernails and her robedecorated with artemisia leaves. Sculptures of Magu appear to far less common than those of Guandi or Guanyin. Its monumental size suggest that it was probably made for an important Daoist temple. Compare to another slightly earlier dated gilt-lacquered wood fgure of Weituo Pusa, of a smaller size (133 cm.), sold in Christie’s London, 10 November 2015, lot 239.
Associated with the elixir of life, she is often depicted as an elegant beautiful lady carrying a Longevity peach and accompanied by a deer and Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West. In our present sculpture, Magu is recognizable by her elongated birdlike fingernails and her robedecorated with artemisia leaves. Sculptures of Magu appear to far less common than those of Guandi or Guanyin. Its monumental size suggest that it was probably made for an important Daoist temple. Compare to another slightly earlier dated gilt-lacquered wood fgure of Weituo Pusa, of a smaller size (133 cm.), sold in Christie’s London, 10 November 2015, lot 239.