Bidspirit auction | Chinese Carved Shoushan Stone Figurine

Chinese Carved Shoushan Stone Figurine of Shoulao with Apocryphal Kangxi Mark - A Chinese carved stone figurine depicting Shoulao, the God of Longevity. The figure is hand-carved in the round from a variegated stone with tones of reddish-brown, tan, and cream, characteristic of Shoushan stone or soapstone. Shoulao is portrayed with his traditional attributes, including an elongated cranium, a long flowing beard, and a jovial expression. He holds a gnarled staff in his right hand and a longevity peach in his left. The robes are rendered with simple, fluid lines. The reverse of the figure features two columns of incised characters in a cursive script. The base of the figurine features a carved six-character seal mark highlighted with red pigment. The mark reads Da Qing Kangxi Nian Zhi, which translates to Great Qing Kangxi Period Made. This mark is apocryphal, and the piece was likely produced during the late 19th or early 20th century.