Statuette Of Immortal Beauty In Rock Crystal, China, Qing Dynasty / Republic

This magnificent statuette represents a classical Chinese beauty, an immortal, carved from a single piece of exceptionally pure rock crystal. The figure is remarkably elegant, captured in a fluid movement typical of Eastern aesthetics. The delicate drapery of the dress and the precision of the high chignon, adorned with ribbons, are particularly striking. The young woman carries a flowering branch over her shoulder, a symbol of longevity and the renewal of spring. The direct carving technique perfectly exploits the mineral's transparency to play with the light. Based on the carving style and the work on the blackened wooden base (openwork with scrolling motifs), this piece likely dates from the late Qing dynasty (19th century) or the early Republic period (early 20th century). This was a time when hardstone objects for scholars' cabinets were highly prized for their decorative and spiritual value.