Carved and lacquered wood Okimono representing Zhang Fei (Chohi in Japanese), Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Carved standing in the round, he holds a spear in his hand and his right sword is attached to his back. The garment is decorated with hiramakie, nashiji, kirikane, gold lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlays, dragons, clouds, phoenixes and foliage. Some parts carved in light relief on the back representing two dragons in pursuit of the sacred pearl. The eyes are made of sulphur. Under the tunic on the right is engraved an inscription in five archaic characters that are difficult to decipher and could be: 啓義 松令斎 Hiroyoshi shoreisai. Openwork base with scroll decoration resting on four legs. Total height: 59 cm; height of the figure: 43 cm A small lack to the knot under the neck, small repairs to the spear, small crack to the torso. Provenance: private collection of Henry de Waroquier. Even if some of the attributes, sword and headdress, could make one think of the character of Zhong Kui (Shoki in Japanese), it is more probably the Chinese warrior Zhang Fei (Chohi in Japanese). Either one of the three heroes of Shu, one of the mythical figures of the Three Kingdoms novel, with Guan Yu and Li Bei.