A CHINESE BRONZE 'LAOZI AND BUFFALO' INCENSE BURNER AND COVER

17TH CENTURY

The cover formed as Laozi wearing loose-fitting robes, he sits upon the back of a recumbent water buffalo holding a ruyi sceptre in his right hand, the animal depicted with its head raised and mouth agape revealing its tongue, detailed with swirling tufts of hair to its forehead, 21.8cm, 1.3kg. (2)

Provenance: from an Asian private collection.

Laozi was a semi-legendary philosopher and is regarded as the founder of Daoism. According to legend, Laozi became disillusioned with the corruptness at the Zhou dynasty court and abandoned his position there as a record keeper. He rode away on a water buffalo to the West, only to be recognised by a border official at the Hangu Pass who asked him to write down his wisdom. It is believed that what he wrote became the Daodejing, the sacred text of Daoism.