Lü Dongbin 呂洞賓 - Période République - Stone - China

Lü Dongbin (吕洞宾), one of the Eight Immortals
China, Republic period (1912–1949)
Carved and polished stone sculpture, stone pedestal carved
25 × 11 × 8 cm
Weight: 1.10 kg

Elegant portrayal of Lü Dongbin, one of the most famous figures in the Taoist pantheon and one of the Eight Immortals. Entirely carved in a stone with creamy yellow tones, shaded in warmer zones, the figure stands out for the finesse of its execution, the quality of the polish, and the remarkable attention to detail.

The immortal is depicted standing, in a calm and meditative attitude. His elongated face, with half-closed eyes, is framed by a long mustache that extends into two strands and a slender central beard held delicately in one hand. This measured gesture, combined with his inward expression, gives the figure a presence that is both learned and contemplative. The head is topped with a scholar’s cap whose broad frontal panel is rhythmically grooved with vertical channels and bears a circular incised motif at its center. The precise treatment of this coiffure, as with the facial features, testifies to a sculpture unusually attentive to small details.

Lü Dongbin is mainly identifiable by the sword worn on his back, a traditional attribute of the immortal. Its sheath, carried diagonally behind the shoulder, is carefully worked with incised geometric motifs. In Taoist iconography, this sword holds both spiritual and martial value as it symbolizes the ability to repel evil forces and to cut through worldly illusions and attachments.

The immortal wears a loose scholar’s robe with long sleeves, structured by many folds modeled deeply yet smoothly. The sculptor plays with the stone’s thickness to suggest the garment’s layering. The wide cuffs fall naturally, while the vertical folds of the robe emphasize the figure’s elongated silhouette. The polished surface preserves variations, orange veining, and small natural inclusions of the stone, all of which contribute to the work’s overall appearance.

The reverse side has received attention comparable to the main face. The robe’s folds are carefully continued, and the sword, its sheath, and its suspension system are entirely exposed and decorated. This treatment on all faces indicates that the statuette was designed as a true free-standing sculpture intended to be viewed from multiple angles.

The figure rests on a substantial base also carved in stone, a deep brown-red color strongly contrasting with the statue’s pale tone. Its pierced sculpture cleverly imitates traditional Chinese wooden bases, with gnarled volumes, irregular cavities, and ramified forms evoking the fantastical shapes of scholar’s rocks or naturally contorted roots. The mineral material is thus deliberately worked to produce the illusion of an organic wooden base, creating a striking interplay of materials between the two elements.

The whole belongs to the tradition of decorative and calligraphic sculptures produced in China during the Republican period, when classical themes of Chinese culture, Taoist immortals, sages, scholars, and auspicious deities continued to be represented with a strong taste for technical virtuosity and ornamental materials. Through its precise modeling, expressive face, delicacy of the hands, the meticulous sword decoration, and especially the exceptional wood imitation on the stone base, this representation of Lü Dongbin stands as a fine example of early 20th-century Chinese sculpture, combining traditional Taoist iconography with lapidary craftsmanship.

Condition: Good overall. Some minor chips.
Provenance: Kanaka The Collection, Portugal

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