明早期 陳彥清造鎏金銅老子像|Daoist immortal Laozi
dated 1438
Medium
Gilt brass; lost-wax cast
Dimensions
H. 7 1/2 in. (19 cm); W. 4 3/4 in. (12 cm); D. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture & Period
China · Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 1997
Accession Number
1997.139
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant gilt-brass sculpture, created by the Chinese artist Chen Yanqing in 8, portrays Laozi, the legendary founder of Daoism, seated in serene contemplation. Standing just 7½ inches tall, the figure captures the immortal sage with flowing robes, a gentle expression, and symbolic attributes that reflect his role as a philosopher of harmony and the Dao. Produced during the early Ming dynasty, the work exemplifies the period’s renewed interest in Daoist imagery alongside Buddhist and Confucian traditions. Chen Yanqing employed the sophisticated lost-wax casting technique to achieve remark...