Probably Ming dynasty (1368-1644), stoneware with turquoise and aubergine glaze, Lu Dongbin stands on an octagonal mount, dressed as a scholar holding a leaf shaped fly whisk fan, on his back is a sleeve where he would hold a magic sword, he wears a characteristic floppy cap, Lu Dongbin was an 8th-century scholar and one of the Chinese Eight Daoist Immortals.


18 1/2 in.

From the collection of Thomas English Cody (1889-1948), the great nephew of Buffalo Bill Cody, and by family descent

The glaze used to produce the rich turquoise color is alkaline in nature and more often seen on ceramic wares of the Middle East, like the Persian star tile from the same collection, the fahua palette was is thought to be inspired by foreign ceramics introduced to China during the Tang dynasty (618-907), a period of frequent trade and exchange between China and the cultures along the silk road and the middle east.

Overall good estate condition; small nick with loss to base; loss to aubergine glaze with some restoration and repainting to these areas, notably around the neck and on the leaf; some light hairlines to unglazed area of sleeve openings; some scattered firing glaze imperfections.

$3,000 - 6,000