Description
Dimensions: 23.5cm high (without stand)
Provenance:
A private Asian collection, acquired in 1995
Mandala Fine Arts, Hong Kong
The rounded face carved with half-closed eyes under arched eyebrows and pressed lips, giving a serene, benevolent expression. The head is adorned with neatly incised whorl-like curls, the face flanked by elongated earlobes, further emphasising the calm and dignified aura of the piece.
This piece, probably from Shandong Province, China, exemplifies the refined, almost stoic elegance that is characteristic of Northern Qi sculpture. Expertly carved from exceptionally high-quality stone, it showcases key features of the Northern Qi style, including a small mouth, slender nose, large elongated ears with flat, unpierced lobes, and distinctive whorl-like curls.
Compare a similar piece in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number 2001.422. An other example from the collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung was sold at Sotheby’s London, 8 December 2022, lot 192.
