Antique Carved, Painted Wooden Chinese Figure on Base spencerian portrait 10 7/8" tall x 8

10 7/8" tall x 8 5/8" wide x 11/16" deep

what could definitely read as a phallus

this tender portrayal of an almost comically burdened figure serves as a gentle reminder to laugh at oneself

Very sturdy and sound

Surely one can never have too many old carved wooden objects

Antique Carved, Painted Wooden Chinese Figure on Base spencerian portrait 10 7/8" tall x 8Based on a few other carvings out there of a very similar ilk, I am pretty certain this one is Chinese, likely depicting a scholar, with what seems most likely to be a scroll held in hand. I think it is quite an exquisite little thing, which feels rather ancient but I think most likely 19th century, and which appears to have been finely carved from one piece of wood, then hand painted, now showing primarily a combination of soft gray and gold. At some