Ivory figurine

This small ivory figurine shows a man holding a fish in his right hand and a pipe or large spoon in his left. The bald head and robe indicate that this figure is a Buddhist monk. The fish may represent some other accomplishment the monk has made, or it could be a symbol of freedom from restraint. The freedom he has attained may relate to the pipe he holds in his left hand. The detail of this object is good as the scales on the fish and the folds of the robe are depicted realistically. The object seems to have been made out of the small portion of the ivory tusk. It comes with a wooden stand from which it is detachable. There are pegs carved from the ivory attached to his feet which correspond to holes in the stand. This may indicate that the wooden stand and the ivory carving are contemporary and probably made for each other. By the style and color of the ivory it is possible that this piece dates to the lµate Qing Dynasty in China