Chinese Artist, Sculpture, Late 19th Century, Sodalite

Details

Description

A very fine work in natural stone, Sodalite, made in China.
Finely chiseled, this large statue depicts a scene of … Read more A very fine work in natural stone, Sodalite, made in China.
Finely chiseled, this large statue depicts a scene of life in which several ancient symbols stand side by side, such as the Phoenix, the swallows, the horse, earthly abundance with its luxuriant vegetation, fruit, but also food from the ocean and its generous fish, a man, a woman and a child.

First discovered in Greenland in 1806, Sodalite was analyzed by a Scottish chemist 5 years later (1811), Mr. Thomas Thomson.
Several long years went by without its success.
It was only in 1891 that the stone was recognized as an ornamental stone. 

It was during a diplomatic trip to Canada in 1901 that Mary de Teck (wife of King George V) discovered Sodalite and fell under the spell of this natural stone. 
The princess ordered a large quantity of Sodalite to decorate her London apartments. Sodalite quickly became fashionable.

Period: Late 19th - Napoleon III
Dimensions: Total height with base: 92cm x Width: 31.5cm x Depth: 27cm
Dimensions of wooden base: Height: 7cm x Length: 25cm x Width: 23cm

But what do these symbols mean?
The phoenix, a mythological bird, symbolizes purification and rebirth, as it is said to rise from its own ashes.  
This magnificent bird is also synonymous with good fortune, opportunity and luck in Asian cultures.
In feng shui, the phoenix is also one of the four celestial animals (sometimes also known as the red bird or red raven). The red phoenix symbolizes the element of fire and the south.

Swallows are welcomed as the promise of spring in Asian cultures. Their migratory habits are so reliable that in China, their arrival was used to determine the time of the equinoxes. 
In feng shui, spring is linked to the element wood, life, new beginnings and family. In China, having a swallow's nest on your roof is a sign of good luck.
The swallow is also a bird associated with femininity and beauty. It's a common name for girls in Chinese.

The horse, on the other hand, symbolizes endurance, wisdom and speed, and is the mount of illustrious figures such as Immortals, generals and emperors. 
According to ancient Chinese legends, the horse was born of water and can travel thousands of places quickly to lead its master to the Queen Mother of the West. See less