Beschreibung:

A set of three 18th century Chinese carved soapstone figures of Daoist ImmortalsMounted on Louis XV style ormolu bases, most probably 19th century and adapted
Comprising: Zhongli Quan with hair arranged in two topknots, wearing a long robe, one hand holding a fan suspending a tassel; Han Xiangzi similarly with hair arranged in two topknots, wearing a robe incised with clouds and flowers, one hand holding a flute; and Lü Dongbin with a sword slung over his back and a fan held in the left hand, wearing a flowing robe incised with prunus blossoms and clouds; each figure standing on a shaped pierced ormolu base formed as scrolling acanthus leaves and rocaille motifs mounted with applied flowers, one with a lizard, 17cm wide, 14.5cm deep, 31cm high (6 1/2in wide, 5 1/2in deep, 12in high) (3)Footnotes十八世紀 壽山石雕鐘離權、韓湘子及呂洞賓立像一組三件（配路易十五風格鎏金銅座，多數約19世紀並有改動）
Provenance
Blitz, Amsterdam, 28 June 1995.
來源
Blitz，阿姆斯特丹，1995年6月28日
These three figures are part of the legendary 'Eight Immortals' of the Daoist sect. Zhongli Quan is said to live in the Zhou dynasty (1122-249 BCE) and to have obtained the secrets of the elixir of life. Han Xiangzi of the Tang dynasty (618-907) often depicted carrying a flute, is credited with the power of making flowers grow. Lü Dongbin is also said to live in the Tang dynasty, depicted in art as a scholarly gentleman holding a sword that is believed to be able to dispel evil.
For related soapstone figures, see M.Cassidy-Geiger, 'Changing Attitudes Towards Ethnographic Material: Re-Discovering the Soapstone Collection of Augustus the Strong', in Abhandlungen und Breichte des Staatlichen Museums fur Volkerkunde Dresden, Frankfurt, 1994, p.20, no.11. Compare also with a related soapstone figure of Lü Dongbin, 17th/18th century, which was sold at Bonhams, London, 11 May 2021.