China, Dali Kingdom 12th century
Dimensions: H: 29 cm
This gilt and red lacquered bronze figure represents Kuixing, a Daoist deity associated with scholarship and examinations. Works depicting Daoist figures from the Dali Kingdom are rare, as Buddhism was the dominant state religion; however, the region was culturally and religiously diverse, shaped by exchanges with Sichuan, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. Kuixing, traditionally linked to Wenchang, the god of letters, was particularly revered among educated elites. The figure displays stylistic features consistent with known Yunnan bronzes of the period, supporting a 12th-century dating. Provenance from a German private collection, acquired before 1987.
