A SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF AN IMMORTAL

QING DYNASTY, 17-18TH CENTURY, ‘SHANG JUN’ MARK

HEIGHT: 10.2CM

The finely carved soapstone figure depicts a bearded immortal with a high pointed forehead seated with his left hand resting on his raised left leg, clutching onto a sprig of lingzhi while his right arm leans against a one-legged armrest. His robe is incised with large cloud-shaped medallions, mirrored on the cloud diaper border at the hem. A ribbon ties the robe above his protruding belly while his hair is gathered in cloth and tied with a string. His smiling face and downcast eyes express serene contentment. The furong soapstone is overall pale and cream in colour with occasional red splashes and veining. The characters ‘Shang Jun’ are lightly incised on his right shoulder.

清十七-十八世紀芙蓉石壽星