A BRONZE FIGURE OF ZHENWU, MING DYNASTY 明代真武大帝銅像China, 1368-1644. The Perfect Warrior heavily cast seated with his hands placed on his knees, wearing armor beneath his long flowing robe that is finely incised with cloud and diaper designs at the hems and cast in front with a sinuously writhing dragon. The face with a fine expression marked by heavy-lidded eyes and a subtle smile, framed by pendulous earlobes, a chin beard, the long hair swept back and elegantly falling down his back.Provenance: Old Viennese private collection, built over several generations between 1910 and 1975, thence by descent in the same family.Condition: Very good condition with some wear and casting flaws, remnants of gilt, minor nicks, dents and scratches, two small losses to fingers. Solid, ancient patina.Weight: 3,138 g (excl. base) and 3,550 g (incl. base)Dimensions: Height 27.5 cm (excl. base) and 31.5 cm (incl. base)With a fitted wood stand. (2)The cult of the Daoist god Zhenwu may have originated during the Warring States period or Han dynasty, when he was referred to as Xuanwu (Dark Warrior). By the early Northern Song period, the deity was transformed into the anthropomorphic god known as the 'perfected warrior'. However, it was only in the early Ming dynasty that Zhenwu's status was eventually elevated to its highest influence and popularity.Auction result comparison: Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 15 March 2017, lot 550Price: USD 15,000 or approx. EUR 16,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A bronze figure of Zhenwu, Ming dynastyExpert remarks: Note the identical pose and closely related hand posture, robe, and armor with cast dragon design and incised hems as well as the similar size (33 cm high)Auction result comparison: Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s London, 14 May 2019, lot 124Price: GBP 18,750 or approx. EUR 23,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A gilt-bronze figure of Zhenwu, 17th centuryExpert remarks: Note the identical pose and closely related hand posture, robe, and armor with cast dragon design and incised hems, whereas the figure is larger (44 cm).明代真武大帝銅像中國, 1368-1644年。真武大帝像容貌壯偉，開臉圓潤飽滿，神采奕奕；披髪跣足，頜下留有一縷長髯，背後披長髮。胸護鎧甲，外罩龍袍，腰繫玉帶，衣紋刻畫自然寫實，腹部刻有側面雲龍，龍紋浮雕立體，呼之欲出。右手靠於右膝，左手置於膝上，垂腳正襟危坐，下擺飾有一條蜿蜒扭動的巨龍。 來源：維也納私人老收藏，在1910 年與1975年期間，經過幾代人的共同努力建立，在同一家族保存至今。 品相：品相非常好，有一些磨損和鑄造缺陷，鎏金殘留，輕微劃痕和凹痕，手指有兩個小缺損。包漿堅實。 重量：3,138 克 (不含底座) 和 3,550 克 (含底座) 尺寸：高27.5 厘米 (不含底座) 和 31.5 厘米 (含底座) 木底座。(2) 拍賣結果比較： 形制：相近 拍賣：紐約蘇富比, 2017年3月15日, lot 550 價格：USD 15,000 （相當於今日EUR 16,500） 描述：明代真武大帝銅像 專家評論：請注意相同的姿勢和相近的手勢、衣袍、龍紋盔甲、衣紋，以及相似的尺寸 (33 厘米) 。拍賣結果比較： 形制：非常相近 拍賣：倫敦佳士得, 2019年5月14日, lot 124 價格：GBP 18,750（相當於今日EUR 23,500） 描述：十七世紀銅鎏金真武大帝像 專家評論：請注意相同的姿勢和相近的手勢、衣袍、龍紋盔甲、衣紋，尺寸稍大 (44 厘米)。