EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CARVED BOXWOOD FIGURE OF THE 'QUEEN MOTHER OF THE WEST' (XIWANGMU)

EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CARVED BOXWOOD FIGURE OF THE 'QUEEN MOTHER OF THE WEST' (XIWANGMU), JIAQING / DAOGUANG PERIOD, finely carved to depict the goddess wearing a voluminous long robe standing on a naturalistic base with crashing waves, and surmounted by an urn filled with lingzhi fungus and blossoming flowers, with a fitted carved zitan stand, bears seal mark for Shang Xun, 13.5cm high (including the stand), 11.5cm high (without) Provenance: Private collection, Kent. Note: This exceptional carved boxwood figure bears the seal mark of Shang Xun, active 1796-1850. Xun was a renowned bamboo carver of the Jiaqing (1796-1820) and Daoguang (1821-1850) periods, known for his work in the liu qing technique, or 'positive relief' carving. The impeccable craftsmanship of this piece mirrors the quality and skill of Xun, and this could be a fascinating example of the artist experimenting with non-typical form and material. Alternatively, this figure could have originated from Xun's own personal collection which would have contained revered works of his contemporaries. It was common practice at the time to apply one's own signature to prized artworks as an acknowledgement of quality. For another example of this practice see the jade buffalo included in this sale (lot 396). Is it also feasible that another highly skilled master applied the seal of Shang Xun to pay homage to his artistry through their own work, another common occurrence in the artist community in China during this period. Undeniable, is the exquisite pedigree of this carving, underlined by the inclusion of a fitted zitan stand. Zitan is a rare, dark wood of the rosewood family, reserved for works of the Imperial court during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.