Sculpture - Lacquered wood - Zhenwu - A Large Wood Figure of Zhenwu - China - Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

Ming dynasty, 15th -16th century,
Height: 118 cm. , width; 80 cm.

carved in a seated posture with left hand resting on the lap, the right hand holding the hem of his robe, open at the chest to reveal armor with a lion-head mask above protective chain mail, the upper arms and shins also protected by chain-mail plates, the handsome face with inlaid eyes framed by fleshy ears and swept-back hair, the back with original green polychrome.

Provenance: property of Mr. Jan-Peter van Opheusden (famous Dutch painter) , collected in China in 1980's

There is a book from Cobra Museum in Amstelveen, The Netherlands about some of the most important Dutch painters. He could be found in this book.

Condition:
There are the expected cracks, splits, wear, and loss to the pigment overall. There are stabilized cracks overall. The lower part of the figure is embedded in its base and may not be complete. For it size and aged overall in good condition, with red and green original polychrome.

Seller Note:
The third emperor of the Ming dynasty, Yongle (1403-1424) , credited Zhenwu for his successful ascension to the throne, and ordered numerous temple complexes built in honor of the god at Wudang Shan, the mountain where Zhenwu is believed to have ascended to heaven. By the middle of the 15th century, Zhenwu had become the most important god in religious Daoism.

Note: It will be professionally packed and safely sent in a wooden crate within 3 working days by Fed. Ex. Shipped with Insurance!