Chinese Porcelain Shou Lao Statuette God of Longevity, 1890s

Very beautiful enameled porcelain statuette of the God Shou Lao, also called the old man of the South Pole. He is a Chinese Taoist god, Incarnation of the Antarctic stars, he is the god of wealth and longevity. He is shown here with a basket of peaches.
The porcelain work is magnificent, the drape of Shou Lao’s cape is very well done and gives an impression of movement. The character’s face is smiling and kind. He calls for serenity. The joyful pink, blue, yellow and green colors of its clothing make it a remarkable decorative object.
The statuette is marked with a red diamond, one of the 8 precious symbols. This mark is similar to the Fang Sheng diamond.

Shou (Shu) Xing or Shou Lao is one of the 3 Lucky Gods, called Fu Lu Shu, for Fuxing, Luxing and Shouxing.
The San Xing or San-hsing, or Sanqing, the “Three Stars”, or even the “Three Pure Ones”, are the supreme principles of Taoism. These are historical figures who obtained divine status in recognition of their specific merits.
Shouxing, or Shou-Hsing “Star of Longevity”, is represented as a man with a white beard and eyebrows, with advanced baldness and holding peaches, symbols of Immortality. He became famous as Shou Lao, the god of longevity and the “Old Man of the South Pole”. It is he who decides the date of death of each person, which he puts in writing. The numbers on this date cannot be changed, but they can sometimes be swapped. So, inviting him into your home is a chance to have a long life!

Chinese porcelain, diamond mark – XXth