Lü Dongbin 呂洞賓 - Période République - Stone - China

Lü Dongbin (呂洞賓), one of the Eight Immortals
China, Republic era (1912–1949)
Carved and polished stone sculpture, stone plinth
25 × 11 × 8 cm
Weight: 1.10 kg

Elegant representation of Lü Dongbin, one of the most famous figures in the Taoist pantheon and one of the Eight Immortals. Entirely carved from a creamy yellow-toned stone with 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 posture. His elongated face, with half-closed eyes, is framed by a long mustache that extends into two strands and a slender central beard that he holds delicately in one hand. This measured gesture, coupled with his inward expression, gives the figure a presence that is both scholarly and contemplative. The head is crowned with a scholar’s cap whose broad frontal panel is rhythmically ribbed with vertical grooves and bears a circular incised motif at its center. The precise treatment of this headdress, as with the facial features, testifies to a sculpture unusually attentive to small details.

Lü Dongbin is chiefly identifiable by the sword worn on his back, a traditional attribute of the immortal. His scabbard, held diagonally behind the shoulder, is finely worked with incised geometric motifs. In Taoist iconography, this sword has both spiritual and martial significance, symbolizing the ability to ward off malevolent forces and to cut through illusions and attachments of the earthly world.

The immortal wears a broad scholar’s robe with long sleeves, structured by numerous folds that are deeply but smoothly modeled. The sculptor plays with the thickness of the stone to suggest the layering of the garment. The wide sleeves hang naturally while the vertical folds of the robe emphasize the elongation of the figure. The polished surface retains variations, orange veins and small natural inclusions of the stone, which fully contribute to the work’s appearance.

The reverse has received attention comparable to the front. The folds of the robe are carefully continued there, and the sword, its scabbard and suspension system are fully exposed and decorated. This treatment on all faces indicates that the statuette was conceived as a true sculpture in the round, meant to be viewed from multiple angles.

The figure rests on a substantial base also carved from stone, with a deep reddish-brown color that strongly contrasts with the lighter hue of the statuette. Its openwork carving cleverly imitates traditional Chinese wooden bases, with knotty volumes, irregular cavities, and branching reminiscent of the fantastical shapes of scholar’s rocks or the naturally windswept roots. The mineral material is thus deliberately worked to produce the illusion of an organic wooden base, creating a remarkable play of materials between the two elements.

The work belongs to the tradition of decorative and inscribed sculptures produced in China during the Republican period, when classical themes of Chinese culture—immortal Taoists, sages, literati, 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, meticulous sword details, and especially the exceptional wood-illusion on the stone base, this representation of Lü Dongbin is a fine example of early 20th-century Chinese sculpture, combining traditional Taoist iconography with lapidary craftsmanship.

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

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