Hand-Carved Boxwood Wood Sculpture – Monkey on Horseback "Immediate Promotion" Motif

Details

Description

Add a touch of traditional Asian symbolism and exceptional craftsmanship to your collection with this finely detailed wood sculpture. Carved … Read more Add a touch of traditional Asian symbolism and exceptional craftsmanship to your collection with this finely detailed wood sculpture. Carved from boxwood (Huangyangmu), the piece features a rich, warm honey-brown patina and a smooth, tactile finish.

The sculpture depicts a lively, prancing horse carrying a monkey on its back. The monkey is holding a square seal or peach in its hands. In traditional Chinese iconography, this composition represents the idiom "Ma Shang Feng Hou" (马上封侯), which translates to "immediate promotion" or "success on horseback." The monkey (hou) is a homophone for "marquis" (a high-ranking noble), and the horse (ma) symbolizes speed and success.

The horse is carved with a dynamic sense of motion, with detailed musculature and a flowing mane and tail. It stands upon a heavily textured, rugged base carved to resemble a rocky outcrop with pine branches. The deep relief carving highlights the fine details of the monkey's features and the horse's tack.

Dimensions:

Length: 12 cm (approx. 4.7 inches)

Width: 5 cm (approx. 2 inches)

Height: 11 cm (approx. 4.3 inches)

Weight: 190.7 g (approx. 6.7 oz) See less