A LARGE DATED IVORY FIGURE OF A SAGE, Kangxi

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A LARGE DATED IVORY FIGURE OF A SAGE, Kangxi
Carved following the gentle line of the original tusk, the bearded figure standing, the smiling face with well carved rounded features, his right arm in front holding a book, wearing a wide-sleeved coat over a long robe tied at the front in a bow, the base carved in relief with an inscription
70cm. high, wood stand and fitted box

Lot Essay

The inscription on the base reads: ''Made by the courtiers Feng Xilu and Feng Xizhang of the Yangxin Hall, after the figure by Yang Wangzhi, in the 42nd year of Kangxi'' (corresponding to 1703).
The Yangxin Hall (or the Hall for broadening the mind) is one of the buildings in the Forbidden City where an Imperial workship was situated. One can deduce from the names of the ivory carvers that they were brothers. The text implies that this statue is a smaller replica after the original version by Yang Wangzhi.

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