Figurine: P’u-hsien (Samantabhadra), Patron God of Mt. Omi, China

"A finely carved Chinese bamboo figure of Samantabhadra, 5 1/2” H., (All Gracious) seated upon an elephant. The figure holds a Buddhist rosary and a ruyi. The Chinese term for this deity is P’u-hsien who is one of the Three Great Beings (Bodhisattvas), or P’u-Sa (Chinese), and Manjusri (Sanskrit). P’u-hsien has been a prominent Buddhist deity in Chinese culture and the patron saint of Mount Omi in Szechuan, where temples were built to honor this Bodhisattva. This important figure is generally depicted astride an elephant. P’u-hsien and the elephant (who had the ability to change into a man) had a fight. Having lost the fight, the elephant allowed P’u-hsien to ride on his back. P’u-hsien has the ability to change from male to female, and has been represented in decorative arts as either masculine or feminine. This rare carving dates from the early Qing Dynasty, 17th/18th century, Kangxi period (K’ang His).

Bamboo is revered as a symbol of long life, constancy and fidelity. Bamboo (Bambuse arundinacea) is the most difficult wood to carve. It is as hard as horn, although it is hollow and segmented. It is lustrous and it ranges in hue from lemon to black, with warm tones in cherry red, tortoise shell, and mahogany, as well as variegated hues." - Bernie McManus, Appraiser, Woodbury House, Connecticut, 10/29/2007

12/19/2007: "Comparables: Christie's Hong Kong 5/30/05, sale 2190 lot 1294 Chinese bamboo Zhong Kui, 18th c. The group is superbly carved in the round and openwork depicting Zhong Kui seated on a rocky outcrop, dressed in a voluminous scholar’s robe, his hair dressed under a scholar’s cap, the bearded head tilted to one side, eyes bulging in a frowning expression, his hand raised in in acceptance of a jue wine vessel offered in both hands by a kneeling demon, beside another demon lying prostrate massaging Zhong Kui’s bare foot, Zhong Kui’s other hand is resting on the back of a third demon and unaware of two further demons behind his back, one surreptitiously stealing wine from a ewer and the other playfully climbing into Zhong Kui’s shoe. (extremities repaired) 5 3/4 in high, root wood stand. Christie’s London 3/29/07, sale 5093 lot 42, Chinese bamboo figural carving, 18th Century modeled as a lady seated on a rockwork holding a woven basket of flowers, wearing a long flowing robe with a double gourd tied at her waist, her hair pinned in an ornate chignon, a crane standing to the reverse, 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) high. Condition: Lady's head has been broken off and re-glued. Scratching to wood to right side of ladies face. Several slight splits to base edge. Rubbing and wear. Christie’s Hong Kong, 11/28/2006, sale 2325, lot 1646. A finely carved Chinese bamboo Daoist Immortal seated on an angular rockwork platform, with a jolly expression on his face, the loose robes falling in folds revealing his round belly, and with a double-gourd bottle strapped to his back, holding a spray of lingzhi in one hand, above a basket filled with fruit and plants placed on the ground, 4 3/4 in. (12 cm.) high, box, 18th century.