A finely modelled Chinese terracotta statuette, depicting a fish creature with human face. The statuette features a large, horizontally arranged body of a fish, with a triangular tail, a notched dorsal fin and gills. The fish head is replaced with a human head, with closed eyes, wide nose and full lips. The original pigment on the statue has mostly faded but some red and pink areas are still visible. Earthly encrustations throughout. Signs of wear as consistent with age, such as scratches, chips to the edges, and the base. A surface crack on the inside of the statue and around the head. Fish are a symbol of wealth in Chinese culture. The Chinese character for fish is yu (traditional Chinese: 魚; simplified Chinese: 鱼; pinyin: yú). Though now pronounced with a different tone in modern Chinese, yù (裕), meaning "abundance", originally was a homophone. Chinese folklore featured mythical creatures with a human’s upper body and a fish’s lower body, called jiaoren. Jiaoren were associated with purity, beauty, and the protection of marine life. Measurements: L 22cm x H 8.7cm Provenance: The C. Roger Moss OBE collection. N.B. Delivery may be longer due to the busier period and we do not guarantee delivery before Christmas. Items paid for after the 19th December will be shipped after the New Year (week commencing on the 5th January 2026). **There will be an additional fee incurred for returned shipments due to buyer’s non-response to customs enquiries and/or unsuccessful delivery attempts.**