Bronze standing figure of a Taoist monk Chinese, Ming period...

Bronze standing figure of a Taoist monk Chinese, Ming period the serene standing robed figure with head slightly turned to the right and with symbolic lingchi fungus, deer, and a crane all resting on the rocky base, 45.2cm high Provenance: the figure is sold with an interesting original letter from Thomas Godwin of Barbon, Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmoreland dated February 7th 1847, detailing the gift of the bronze to the relative of the vendor. 'I possess one very fine figure, I bought it in Canton, some time and thirty years ago; it had been dug out of ruins- Whether it represents Confortsee, or not, I am unable to say: neither could I get any information on that need from Dr Robert Morrison, the great Chinese scholar to whom I showed the figure..'. The letter also details the gift of some porcelain from Canton and some glassware.Bronze standing figure of a Taoist monk Chinese, Ming period the serene standing robed figure with head slightly turned to the right and with symbolic lingchi fungus, deer, and a crane all resting on the rocky base, 45.2cm high Provenance: the figure is sold with an interesting original letter from Thomas Godwin of Barbon, Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmoreland dated February 7th 1847, detailing the gift of the bronze to the relative of the vendor. 'I possess one very fine figure, I bought it in Canton, some time and thirty years ago; it had been dug out of ruins- Whether it represents Confortsee, or not, I am unable to say: neither could I get any information on that need from Dr Robert Morrison, the great Chinese scholar to whom I showed the figure..'. The letter also details the gift of some porcelain from Canton and some glassware.

On a heavily weighted base, with various old holes, wear and marks. And with later wing nuts used to support the figure.