Oriental Lady. China, 20th century.

Oriental Lady. China, 20th century.
Carved and polished tiger's eye.
With a carved wooden base.
Measurements: 23.5 cm (figure height); 26.5 cm (with base)

Oriental figure carved from tiger’s eye, a semiprecious stone prized for its golden and brown iridescence, visible in the shifting tones of the polished surface. The piece features openwork carving of an ornamental nature, in which the female figure is integrated among plant motifs and symbolic elements, with a basket of flowers on one side.

The work combines polished surfaces with linear incisions that define the hairstyle, the tunic, and the folds of the garment. The vertical, enveloping composition makes use of the stone’s natural veining to reinforce the dynamic effect of the carving, especially in the areas depicting clothing and vegetation.