Bidspirit auction | Very rare bronze figure of

Very rare bronze figure of Li Guizu (Civil God of Wealth) - Very rare bronze figure of Li Guizu (Civil God of Wealth) China, probably 18th century or earlier. Bronze with dark patina. H. 17.5 cm. Traces of gilding preserved in places. Signed on the back of the base. Depiction of Li Guizu in meditation posture (Dhyana Mudra) on a lotus base. The face shows a composed, serene expression. Condition: Signs of age and wear; without base plate. Li Guizu (born approx. 5th century) is a highly revered civil deity of wealth in Daoism and Chinese folk belief. As a virtuous district magistrate of the Northern Wei Dynasty, he was honored after his death and later mythologized as an incarnation of the planet Venus. He received several divine titles in various dynasties. In popular culture, he became the most popular civil god of wealth and frequently appears in New Year woodcuts and on banknotes of the Qing and Republican eras. His image is often depicted together with deities for happiness, prosperity, longevity, and joy.