AN IVORY FIGURE OF SHOULAO, MING DYNASTY China, 16^th-17^th century. The standing Immortal carved from the curved tusk holding a peach and wearing long robes falling to the ground in soft pleats, depicted with a long beard and a characteristic bald head, his serene face with heavy-lidded eyes and a calm smile. The top with a hardwood plug, the ivory with a naturally grown golden-brown patina overall.

Inscriptions: To interior at the base, 'Yi Qian Lu' ('one thousand and six').

Provenance: From a notable private collector in Mayfair, London, United Kingdom.
Condition: Very good condition with some wear, expected natural age cracks, few small chips to base. The foot rim possibly smoothened. A small old repair to base.

Weight: 681.7 g
Dimensions: Height 31.2 cm

Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 22-B-0438).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's London, 3 April 2012, lot 527
Price: GBP 10,625 or approx. EUR 16,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Chinese ivory carving of Shoulao, late Ming dynasty, 17^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and manner of carving, also from the curved tusk and with Shoulao holding a peach. Note the smaller size (23 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29 May 2019, lot 553
Price: HKD 162,500 or approx. EUR 20,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An ivory figure of Shoulao, Ming dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and manner of carving, also from the curved tusk. Note the darker patina in the upper area, the similar hardwood plug and the size (29 cm).

This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

明代象牙壽老像
中國，十六至十七世紀。象牙隨形而雕，壽老身著長袍，手握壽桃，長鬚，面容沉靜，雙眼微垂。頂部帶有硬木塞子。整體包漿呈金棕色光澤。

款識：象牙内壁可見“一千六”字樣

來源：倫敦梅費爾知名私人收藏。
品相：品相非常好，有一些磨損，預期的自然老化裂縫，底部有少量小磕損。足緣平滑，底部有小修補。

重量：681.7 克
尺寸：高31.2 厘米

象牙交易證書：附有此拍品在歐盟範圍內的交易證書複本(編號 AT 22-B-0438)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2012年4月3日，lot 527
價格：GBP 10,625（相當於今日EUR 16,500）
描述：十七世紀明末象牙壽老像
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題、雕刻風格，以及隨形而雕的壽老手捧壽桃。請注意尺寸稍小(23 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2019年5月29日，lot 553
價格：HKD 162,500（相當於今日EUR 20,500）
描述：明代象牙壽老像
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題、雕刻風格，以及隨形而雕。請注意此像上半部有較深的包漿，頂部有相似的硬木塞，尺寸也相近(29 厘米)。