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These are a matching pair hand carved from maybe boxwood and one has a paper label stuck to bottom with red border around it.They measure about 8.5 inches tall.My first thought was maybe chinese god type figures but not sure which one or Japanese?
Maybe late 1800's or early 1900's?

These are representations of a lohan, the original disciples (16, I think) of Buddha Lohans are portrayed as beings with profound enlightenment. The extreme asceticism of these figures is indicated by their emaciated forms due to self imposed starvation. They are carved from one of the Asian dark hardwoods, not boxwood, and I would date them nuch later than you have. Regards, Jim

I believe these carvings may depict the Daoist immortal Li Tieguai, a.k.a. "Iron Crutch Li", who often manifests himself to mortals as a crippled beggar.

A link to the wikipedia.org article on Li is included below.

Best regards,

Bill H.

URL Title :LiTieguai

Thank you.I will research what you have given for info.

“Curiouser and curiouser!” cried Alice… I’ve examined the Wikipedia article on old ‘Iron-Crutch Li’ and would like to point out that your figures obviously have somewhat untrimmed wooden walking sticks. I could not describe their hair (if any) as ‘messy’ and they are wearing a ribbon tied into a bow, a long way from a ‘gold head band’. They aren’t in possesion of gourds leaking medicine or spirit vapors.front or back, and I wouldn’t describe their beards as ‘scraggly’. They seem to be woefully lacking in characteristics ascribed to Iron-Crutch. I based my estimate of ‘lohan’ on a color photo of a bronze lohan from ‘Asian Art’ by Michael Kerrigan, Flame Tree Publishing, 2005, p. 263. This has very similar facial features and the cut of the beard is identical, and of course it has the trademark rib cage. I’m also including a couple of seated lohans from internet searches. Regards, Jim

Li's crutch seems to be depicted frequently in the shape a gnarly branch, and he often has a foot resting on a step extending from the lower part of it. The fowl appearing in these wood carvings is the only thing I can't recall seeing before in association with Li. Maybe those wooden carvings are a version of the chap depicted in this ivory figure with a rooster. I haven't a clue to who he is, though I believe the piece may be Japanese.

Cheers,

Bill

I had found this on an auction saying it was Li Taiguai and he has a small beard with bow ribbon around head like my carvings have.He looks very similar other than not having a bird at his feet. I was wondering if anyone had seen any labels with red lines around edge on bottom of items from Japan or China as you see in my photo above.The link I have in this has a back photo also.



URL Title :Other Photos click here

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