Ivory figure

This Chinese ivory carving probably depicts one of the Eight Immortals, Lan Caihe, an 8th century Tang Dynasty person who apparently gained immortality by washing the boils and sores on the feet of a beggar. This individual is commonly depicted with a basket of flowers, and might be depicted as either a male or a female. Notice the slender rendering of the figure. The curve of the ivory tusk dictates the shape of the figure. This is common with Chinese ivory sculpture. The slim, highly detailed figure, along with the use of ink (possibly watercolor) for decoration, is characteristic of late Qing Dynasty ivory art. This piece is very comparable to the ivory carving of Guanyin this same collection. The high forehead of the figure symbolizes his high intelligence. The sculpture was meant to be seen from all angles, as evident by the attention to detail on all sides. The belt drawn on the figure may represent the wooden belt worn by Lan Caihe in legend