China, circa 1900 finely carved standing figure of the Laughing Buddha, wearing long flowing robes and carrying a large sack over his shoulder, the face with a wide cheerful expression.
Dimensions Height: 5.5 In. / 13.9 cm.
Provenance Provenance: Property from the Collection of Jameson J. Wood.
Notes Note: Budai, also known as the Laughing buddha, is a semi-historical Chinese monk who is venerated in Chinese Buddhism and allegedly lived around the 10th century in the Wuyue kingdom. His jolly nature, humorous personality, and eccentric lifestyle distinguish him from most Buddhist masters or figures. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the "Laughing Buddha" and carrying a sack with him.