Eastern Wisdom

Name: Eastern Wisdom
 
Type: Carved Figurine of an Elderly Man
 
Year: circa 1950s–1970s
 
Set: No
 
Mark: None - Likely Chinese export or made in Hong Kong
 
History: This is a mid-20th-century Asian figurine representing an elderly male figure, potentially inspired by Shou Xing (寿星), the Daoist god of longevity, or a Chinese scholar/immortal. The figure holds a ruyi sceptre (symbol of power and good fortune), and a double gourd, which are common Taoist symbols associated with wisdom and health.
 
 
The base and the figure’s material exhibit a resinous appearance, likely cold-cast resin with a faux-ivory finish. This is corroborated by:
 
 
The circular striations on the underside (a hallmark of cast resin),Lack of natural Schreger lines or cross-hatching found in genuine ivory,Repair line around the neck visible in close-up, indicating common breakage typical of composite materials,Surface sheen and patination simulating age but lacking the density and grain of natural bone or ivory.
 
 
There is no maker’s mark, reinforcing the likelihood that it was mass-produced for the Western decorative market. The hollow base and molded features also suggest mid-century export ware, which gained popularity during the post-WWII economic boom.
 
 
Condition notes: The visible repair at the neck and surface scuffing will slightly reduce its value for collectors, though it retains display appeal for decorative use.
 
Flaws: Head has been repaired