Chinese Ivory Figure. 1920. Hand Carved. Wooden Stand with Certificate.

This lovely ox bone figure comes from China and was made in the beginning of the 20th century. It is hand-carved on first-quality ox bone, with a very special attention to detail. The figure depicts a stylized lady with fine clothes who wears an elaborate hairdo with a bird sitting on it, and holds a long cane. The lady is probably a goddess because of the elegance of her clothes and the cane, a very common object among Chinese deities. Some parts of the figure are painted in a darker grayish color, meant to highlight them; for example, the elaborate ladys hairdo and the bunch of flowers she is holding in her right hand. The figure is in good condition, except for a small damage in the bunch of flowers: one of the petals is missing. Nevertheless, it is a very remarkable work of art because of the noble material the figure is made of and the carving performed by the artist. The folds of her clothes are very realistic; they fall in a highly natural and fluid way, making waves full of movement. The hairdo is another interesting point: part of the hair is tied back with three buns in the top of the womans head, while another part falls on the back. A big bird with a beautiful plumage and long tail sits on the hairdo with the wings open, and it is holding a jewel in the beck which adorns the ladys forehead. The delicate hands are also very remarkable. The slim fingers are finely carved, and the artist has even carved the nails. The jacket collar with its small ribbon and the flowers the woman holds in her right hand, carved with deeper relief than the rest of the figure, are also beautiful details. As we have mentioned before, the figure holds a long cane in her left hand, whose end gets lost among the folds of the robe. This wonderful ox bone figure comes with a certificate of antiquity which guarantees that the figure was made before 1947. This detail and the beauty of the piece turn it into a real work of art full of history and exoticism, the perfect contribution for a good collection of Eastern antiques. Measurements: 30 cm height (without base).