Lot 21 A Chinese blue and white figure of Li Tieguai

A Chinese blue and white figure of Li Tieguai

late Ming

未知

€ 4.000 – € 8.000

H: H. 22,2 cm

未知

Modelled after Li Tieguai (Iron Crutch Li), with a striking pale blue face painted in underglaze cobalt blue. His hair is encircled by a headband, and he is depicted standing in a long robe, largely undecorated apart from occasional stylised clouds, waves, and floral motifs. He rests both hands upon his iron crutch and stands on an oval plinth decorated with floral motifs. In this example, he is not accompanied by his characteristic calabash gourd, which is frequently included as one of his identifying attributes. The unglazed base has a shallow footrim and a small circular aperture.
Li Tieguai is one of the most renowned figures in Chinese folklore and a central member of the Eight Daoist Immortals. According to Daoist tradition, he was originally a handsome scholar whose spirit travelled to the heavens to study under Laozi. When his attendant mistakenly cremated his body while his spirit was absent, he was forced to inhabit the body of a deceased beggar, becoming the dishevelled old man traditionally associated with his image. He is usually depicted with a dark complexion, bulging eyes, a golden headband, an iron crutch, and a calabash gourd containing medicinal elixir. These attributes symbolise healing, longevity, and the ability to overcome physical limitations.
此尊塑道教八仙之一鐵拐李，面部以釉下青花淡染，呈淺藍色，形象醒目。頭髮以束帶環繫，身着長袍而立，袍身大致留白，僅疏飾如意雲紋、海水紋及花卉紋。雙手扶於鐵拐之上，下承橢圓形臺座，座面飾花卉紋。此像未塑鐵拐李常見的標誌性葫蘆。底部露胎，下承淺圈足，並開一小圓孔。
鐵拐李是中國民間傳說中最著名的仙人之一，亦為道教八仙的重要成員。相傳他原為相貌俊雅的修道者，曾元神出竅，赴天界隨老子修道，其間侍者誤以為他已身亡，遂將肉身火化。待元神返回後，只得借一名亡故乞丐的軀體還魂，自此化作衣衫襤褸、手持鐵拐的老者。其傳統形象通常面色黝黑、雙目圓凸、頭束金箍，手持鐵拐及盛有靈藥的葫蘆，象徵醫治、長壽，以及超越肉身局限的精神力量。
Provenance:
D & M Freedman, London.
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium. Acquired from the above on 26 November 2004 and accompanied by a copy of their original invoice. (see added scan)