Items Similar to Natural Stone Sculpture - Sodalite - China - Late 19th Century Period
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11
Natural Stone Sculpture - Sodalite - China - Late 19th Century Period
About the Item
A very fine piece of natural stone, Sodalite, made in China.
Finely chiselled, this large statue depicts a scene of life in which several ancient symbols stand side by side, such as the Phoenix, swallows, a horse, earthly abundance with its luxuriant vegetation, fruit, but also food from the ocean and its generous fish, a man, a woman and a child.
First discovered in Greenland in 1806, Sodalite was analysed by a Scottish chemist 5 years later (1811), Mr Thomas Thomson.
Several long years went by without it achieving any real success.
It was not until 1891 that the stone was recognised as an ornamental stone.
It was during a diplomatic trip to Canada in 1901 that Mary de Teck (wife of King George V) discovered Sodalite and fell under the spell of this natural stone.
The princess ordered a large quantity of Sodalite to decorate her London flats. Sodalite quickly became fashionable.
Period: Late 19th century - Napoleon III
Dimensions: Total height with base: 92cm x Width: 31.5cm x Depth: 27cm
Dimensions of wooden base: Height: 7cm x Length: 25cm x Width: 23cm
But what do these symbols mean?
The phoenix, a mythological bird, symbolises purification and rebirth, as it is said to rise from its own ashes.
This magnificent bird is also synonymous with good fortune, opportunity and luck in Asian cultures.
In feng shui, the phoenix is also one of the four celestial animals (sometimes also known as the red bird or red raven). The red phoenix symbolises the element of fire and the south.
Swallows are welcomed as the promise of spring in Asian cultures. Their migratory habits are so reliable that in China, their arrival was used to determine the time of the equinoxes.
In feng shui, spring is linked to the element wood, life, new beginnings and family. In China, having a swallow's nest on your roof is a sign of good luck.
The swallow is also a bird associated with femininity and beauty. It is a common name for girls in Chinese.
The horse, on the other hand, symbolises endurance, wisdom and speed, and is the mount of illustrious figures such as the Immortals, generals and emperors.
According to ancient Chinese legends, the horse was born of water and can travel thousands of places quickly to lead its master to the Queen Mother of the West.
- Dimensions:Height: 29.93 in (76 cm)Width: 12.21 in (31 cm)Depth: 10.63 in (27 cm)
- Style:Other (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:XIX th
- Condition:
- Seller Location:CRÉTEIL, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7814236468912
About the Seller
4.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
1stDibs seller since 2022
9 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: Several days
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: CRÉTEIL, France
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Cavalier Terracotta Turquoise Glaze - Chinese Enamels - Period: 19th CenturyLocated in CRÉTEIL, FRA delightful statuette depicting a rider riding his mount, in terracotta with a turquoise, brown and white glaze known as three colours (sancai). The horse is standing on an oblong ...Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Other Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsTerracotta
- Pyrogen, Bronze Character on Cherry Marble Base, Period, 19th CenturyLocated in CRÉTEIL, FRPyrogen representing a figure in bronze. His face is jovial and he holds a tankard in his left hand. He is screwed on a griotte marble base. The scraper is between the shoes. Period: 19th century Dimensions : Height : 12cm - Diameter of the base : 8cm Pyrogenes are match holders, very common before the generalization of lighters, very useful because they can be portable. In the absence of electricity, they were necessary as well to light a stove as a paraffin lamp...Category
Antique 19th Century Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
- Gilt Bronze Group, Sarpédon, Signed, Henri Peinte, Period, 19th CenturyBy Henri PeinteLocated in CRÉTEIL, FRSuperb gilded bronze group resting on a very pretty morello cherry marble, representing Sarpedon, Lycian hero who took part in the Trojan War against the Achaeans, bending his bow wi...Category
Antique 19th Century French Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- Bi Disc Sculpture - Brown Jade - Orange - Period: Early 20th CenturyLocated in CRÉTEIL, FRBi or Pi discs (as they are known in the West) are generally made of jade. Jade is China's most precious stone, and is also the stone of immortality (a material of unalterable hardne...Category
20th Century Chinese Other Mounted Objects
MaterialsJade
- Old Lard Stone, Vine and Grapes, Period, Late 19th Century, Quing DynastyLocated in CRÉTEIL, FRVery beautiful Far Eastern work in "lard stone". The finely carved base is in brown stone. This sculpture represents a vine with generous and abundant foliage and bunches of grape...Category
Antique 19th Century Asian Napoleon III Vases
MaterialsStone, Marble
- Large Laughing Buddha Statue - Green Hard Stone - China - Period: Art NouveauLocated in CRÉTEIL, FRVery nice realization in green hard stone made in China. This large statue depicts the standing "Laughing Buddha" wearing a necklace of pearls of wisdom in his left hand and a ball in his right hand known as the ball of wealth. A large solar disc, symbolizing light, illuminates the Buddha's smile. The meaning of the laughing Buddha with beads and/or a ball of wealth is that of meditation. The representation of the wealth ball is a sign of wealth and prosperity. Period: Late 19th century - Early 20th century - Art Nouveau Dimensions: Height: 103,5cm x Width: 30cm x Depth: 18cm The image of the Laughing Buddha is inspired by a wandering Chinese monk, Budai (Hotei, in Japanese), who lived there centuries ago and believed to be Maitreya, or the Buddha to come. The plump figure and the benevolent attitude of the statue suggest contentment, magnanimity and plenitude. Often referred to as the Laughing Buddha, his signature smile symbolizes contentment and pure joy. The Laughing Buddha is considered a symbol of good luck, and rubbing its big head or belly is believed to bring good fortune and wealth. The fat belly of the Laughing Buddha is a symbol of tolerance, it also shows that prosperity and wealth can go hand in hand with enlightened consciousness. If we talk about Hinduism, Lord Kuber is considered as the Lord of Wealth and Fortune. However, in China, people used to keep a Laughing Buddha statue...Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsStone
You May Also Like
- Antique 19th Century Chinese Hand-Carved Stone Guardian SculptureLocated in Yonkers, NYA 19th century Chinese carved guardian statue used as ship ballast. In the time when great wooden ships dominated the trade among nations of the east,...Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Sculptures and Carvings
MaterialsStone
- Stone sculpture of an Indian woman from late 19th centuryLocated in BORDEAUX, FRBeautiful stone sculpture featuring an Indian woman wearing earrings and a crown with rounds patterns carved. Mounted on a modern iron basement you could easily remove it. Its simpl...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsGranite
- Late 19th Century Bronze / Marble SculptureLocated in Tarry Town, NYLate 19th century well executed large patinated bronze figural sculpture of a seated cupid / winged putti resting of an oval marble base. The piece is in great condition. Minor wear ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
- Late 19th Century Bronze Bust SculptureLocated in Dallas, TXVictor Leopold Bruyneel is a Belgian sculptor who was born in 1859. Girl with a Floppy Hat Bronze Figure for Tiffany & Co.Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Busts
MaterialsBronze
- Bronze Sculpture, Late 19th Century, AsiaLocated in Saint-Ouen, FRBronze sculpture, late 19th century, Asia Measures: H 19cm, W 15cm, W 8cm.Category
Antique 1880s Asian Chinese Export Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- Large Chinese Mid-19th Century Sand Stone Sculpture of a ScholarLocated in Torino, ITLarge Chinese mid-19th century sand stone sculpture of a scholar.Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Sculptures
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Antique Wooden Horse Statue
Stone Mary Statue
Pendant Object Replacement Character
Vintage Abstract Female Figure Sculpture
Ceramic Sculptures From 1979
Intertwined Sculpture
Sandstone Sphere
Tagliapietra Andrea
Linda Ethier
Amorphic Sculpture
Magritte Gilded Phonograph
Marie Paraguay
Marilyn Levine
Martina N
Moshe Ziffer
Philco 1950s Tv With Keith Haring Graffiti
Objects With Narratives
George Nelson Comprehensive