CHINESE NUT MICRO-SCULPTURE COMPLETE BY SAGELS OF 1000 FACES

HEDIAO MICRO-SCULPTURE ON A CHINESE WALNUT, COMPLETE BY SAGE OF 1000 FACES AND BASE. NUMEROUS FIGURES OF ARHATS (LUOAN), ENLIGHTENED BUDDHIST WISE MONKS, SCULPTED ON THE SURFACE OF A WHOLE WALNUT, INTRICATELY CARVED WITH METIC HANDWORK IN THE TRADITIONAL PRIMITIVE ART OF HEDIAO. WOODEN PEDESTAL BASE. APPROXIMATE MEASUREMENTS OF THE WALNUT: 3.8 CM. PEDESTAL HEIGHT: 3.3 CM. Hediao is a traditional Chinese art of micro-sculpture that consists of carving tiny, intricate figures on the pits of hard fruits, such as peaches, apricots, olives, or walnut shells. Artisans create highly detailed faces, boats, or animals in very small spaces. The art of carving became popular in 960, during the Song dynasty.