Important Chinese Cersuolo coral carving, Republic period

Carved from a single piece of "Cerasuolo" coral (Corallium elatius) of reddish-orange hue, depicting Guanyin, the iconic symbol of grace, virtue, and ideal beauty.
Guanyin is portrayed at the center of the composition with gentle and serene features, her eyes half-closed in a meditative expression, and a finely carved circular halo behind her shoulders. She wears an elaborate high chignon adorned with a regal diadem or crown. Her long, flowing ceremonial robes are enriched with necklaces and a decorated belt featuring a circular floral medallion at the waist, from which finely carved geometric pendants descend.
The figure is set within a complex and dynamic mythological composition. Beside her rises a majestic Chinese dragon, richly carved with meticulously rendered scales, emerging from below amid swirling clouds or stylized waves. The dragon extends upward with its head projecting to the right, jaws open, and finely detailed whiskers and branching horns. The entire composition displays extraordinary virtuosity in exploiting the natural "V"-shaped branching of the organic material, using its bifurcated form to enhance both the soaring presence of the divine figure and the sweeping coils of the mythical creature.

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): 37.5 × 22 × 3.2 cm
Base dimensions (H × W): 16.5 × 11.5 cm
Total weight: 1,380 g
Estimated coral weight: 1,300 g

This lot is accompanied by expertise issued by the Ce.S.Ar. Centro Studi Archeometrici,  and is only available for sale with shipments within the European Community.