Chinese school of the 20th century.

Chinese school of the 20th century.
"Li Bai.
Corallium.
Wooden base.
Total weight with base: 91,32 g.
Measurements: 8,5 x 6,5 x 2 cm (figure); 11 x 8 x 5 x 5 cm (base).

Sculpture carved in red coral representing the Chinese poet Li Bai. He has been represented drinking from a gourd. In Chinese mythology, the gourd is associated with prosperity, longevity and protection, so this bearded figure drinking greedily from it could represent a wise hermit drinking the elixir of life. Red coral, which in this piece has been polished and carved in great detail, is a prized material in jewelry and sculpture for its vibrant color and association with good fortune and vital energy. The figure assumes a dynamic attitude, holding aloft the gourd like a wineskin. The character's features are extremely expressive. The coral carving is extremely complex due to the fragility of the material. The mastery in the details and folds highlights the craftsman's skill.

Among the most beautiful products that the sea offers to the vanity of humans is, without a doubt, red coral, which in all times has served as a precious adornment with which many peoples have adorned and ornamented themselves. In some Eastern cultures, red coral is not only a highly esteemed ornament, but also a sign of dignity or command: the mandarins of China wore it as an attribute of their authority. The Turks were also very fond of coral ornaments, which they wore not only on their person, but also in the decoration and ornamentation of their homes. The Greeks designated coral by the name of korallion, which means "ornament of the sea", this word passed into Latin as corallium, from which the word coral was derived. The color of the limestone shaft offers a great variety of shades ranging from red to pink and some of these colorations have a delicate and soft pink hue, the most sought after by divers. The limestone shaft is so compact and homogeneous that it can be subjected to the most perfect polishing without disintegration and cracking, a property that allows it to be worked and carved in a thousand different ways to achieve an infinite number of decorative or artistic objects.