Chinese Cersuolo coral carving, Republic period

Carved from a single piece of "Cerasuolo" coral (Corallium elatius), the sculpture depicts Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Mercy, portrayed in a graceful, flowing pose that follows the natural form of the original coral branch.
Her face is framed by an elaborately carved and richly ornamented high coiffure. She is dressed in sumptuous traditional robes embellished with delicately engraved floral motifs, while a flowing ornamental ribbon encircles the figure, imparting a remarkable sense of movement and elegance.
With her raised left hand, Guanyin gracefully holds a flowering branch, a traditional attribute symbolizing purity, compassion, and renewal. The sculpture is mounted on a shaped dark wood base.

The sculpture belongs to the Chinese tradition of ornamental coral carvings produced for both the domestic market and export, a category that flourished between the late Qing dynasty and the Republican period.
During the first decades of the twentieth century, the workshops of Canton (Guangzhou), Beijing, and Shanghai developed a highly specialized production dedicated to the carving of precious corals imported from both the Mediterranean and the waters of Japan and Taiwan. These materials were particularly prized by Chinese patrons for their symbolic and auspicious significance. Red coral was traditionally associated with prosperity, longevity, social prestige, and protection.
The quality of the carving, the naturalistic modeling, and the deeply undercut workmanship are consistent with numerous Chinese coral sculptures of the Republican period, characterized by a refined synthesis of Western naturalism and the traditional technical virtuosity of Chinese carving.
Today, these refined works are rare and highly sought-after collectors' pieces, bearing witness to the elegance and complexity of the cultural and commercial exchanges that shaped the decorative arts of their time.

Coral dimensions (H × W × D): 16,5 x 11,5 x 6,5 cm
Base dimensions (H × W x D): 3,5 x 12,5 x 8,5 cm
Total weight: 722 g
Estimated coral weight: 650 g

This lot is available for sale only with shipments within the European Union.