Patinated ivory statuette, China, Ming period, 17th century Carved in the round and in slight relief in the tip of the tusk, it depicts a Taoist immortal holding a luan shan fan in his left hand along his chest. He wears a characteristic beard and his wide-sleeved robe is girded with a long ribbon tied at the front. His hair is pulled back into a bun, held in place by a piece of cloth that runs down his back. Missing is the skull cap, usually a rounded wooden piece used to replace the tip of the tusk. Height: 22.3 cm; gross weight: 225 g