Fairy figure with basket. China, 20th century... Lot n° 46

Fairy figure with basket. China, 20th century. Turquoise carved by hand on wooden base. Measurements: 12 cm (figure height); 4 cm (base height). Round sculpture made of turquoise, carved with great detail representing a lady. It is the representation of a Chinese fairy, a type of female spirit of great beauty, belonging to the celestial kingdom but living on Earth. Closely related to nature, they are often represented covered with flowers that seem to be born from their floating clothes. The image of the fairy scattering flowers symbolizes happiness and good omens. It is a divine entity considered a dispenser of goods, beauty and happiness to mankind, and symbolically related to spring. Some fairies are part of Chinese legends, such as Tai Bai (identified with the star we know as Deneb), which acts as a chaperone between two star lovers, the weaver fairy (Vega) and her human lover (Altair). It stands on a carved wooden base decorated in the upper area with a fretwork, also openwork plant forms.