Chinese Boxwood Carved Figure with Tiger, Qing Period, 19th Century

Carved Chinese boxwood figure of a dancing man stepping on a tiger.

The figure has great character, enhanced by the black eyes and rich patina. The carving is in good condition with no parts missing, although there are age-related cracks to the lower torso and base.

China has a long tradition of wood sculptures, with wooden ornaments and furniture found from the Southern Qi period (420 - 479 AD). After the mid-Ming period, carving became an independent craft category in its own right and reached a peak during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), with bamboo and ivory artists also turning to wood.