LATE 16TH/EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Details

A LATE MING IVORY FIGURE OF HAN XIANGZI
late 16th/early 17th century
Finely carved from the curvature of the tusk, the figure dressed in a long flowing robe tied with a sash at the waist, his head with a wispy beard turned slightly to the left, his left hand raised and pierced as though to hold a flute, age cracks, cap with lacquer infill, the flute missing and hand possibly replaced
10 5/8in. (27cm.) high

Provenance

Major A.J.A. Douglas, sold Sotheby's London, 15th March, 1973, lot 532.

Exhibited

London, The British Museum, jointly with the O.C.S., Chinese Ivories from the Shang to the Qing, 1984, Catalogue, no.51.

Lot Essay

Han Xiangzi is one of the eight Daoist Immortals. He was the nephew of the famous statesman Han Yu and was born c.840 A.D. As in the present lot, he is often depicted as a boy playing the flute and is therfore regarded as the patron of musicians. See the above-mentioned British Museum and O.C.S. 1984 Exhibition Catalogue, p.65 for a discussion on the Immortals, and pp.66-83, nos.44-76 for ivory carvings of the eight Daoist Immortals and other associated figures also included in the Exhibition.

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