Riding the Beast with a Staff

Viewing notes

A viewer's written impression — not a buyer review or first-hand record

This wood-toned figure sits at ease astride a recumbent beast. A five-leaf crown caps his lowered gaze as he sits relaxed on the beast's back, one leg hanging down, the toe of his foot resting on a small carved cloud. His right hand holds upright a tall golden ringed staff, its head ornate with rings, while the left cradles a flaming jewel before his belly. Robes fall in layers, and a golden necklace lets fine bead strings hang at his chest. Below, the beast — single-horned, round-eyed, its mane in curls and a golden bell at its mouth — lies quietly on a rock-form base, the saddle cloth on its back carved with dense floral foliage. The whole piece is a mellow reddish-brown wood tone, gold kept only for the staff and the jewel, striking a single line of light within the calm. It suits enshrinement in a shrine, or a corner of a study or tea room, where it keeps quiet company.