Chinese school, Qing dynasty, second half of the 19th century.

Chinese school, Qing dynasty, second half of the 19th century.
"Child sitting on a tent".
Patinated bronze.
Measurements: 23 x 19 x 15 cm.
This bronze sculpture, belonging to the Chinese school of the Qing dynasty, dated in the second half of the 19th century, represents a child sitting on a carp, a motif loaded with auspicious meanings in the Chinese tradition.
The figure of the child, modeled with expressiveness and naturalism, is cheerful and vital, holding a small object while riding on the carp, whose scales and fins have been finely worked. The whole rests on a base of stylized waves, evoking the movement of water and reinforcing the sense of dynamism.
In Chinese iconography, the carp (liyu) symbolizes perseverance and success, associated with the legend of the carp that ascends the falls of the Yellow River and transforms into a dragon. Combined with the child figure, this image alludes to desires for prosperity, abundance and future achievements, particularly in the academic and life fields.