492
961842
A carved nephrite figurine, late Ming dynasty (1368-1643).
A carved nephrite figurine, late Ming dynasty (1368-1643).
Of a reclining ram, with a lingzhi mushrooom, length 5,4 cm.
Provenance
Purcased at Christies, June 15 2005, lot nr 379.
More information
Lingzhi or ‘divine fungus’ is amongst the most revered and interesting plants in China. Also called ‘Auspicious Plant’ or ‘Immorality Plant’, lingzhi is believed to be a magical substance and Daoist alchemists claimed that by taking lingzhi man could attain immortality and even a dead person could come to life again.