A large Chinese gilded and patinated bronze figure of an Immortal, Lao-zi, seated on wave formations. Ming 1368-1644. H. 64 cm. A large Chinese gilded and patinated bronze figure of an Immortal, Lao-zi, dressed in ruched robe, seated in the Padmasana, the left hand holding a scroll and the right resting at the knee. At the chest a bow. His head bare but back hair in a bun and front with large multi-part beard. The figure is placed on wave formations. Ming 1368-1644. H. 64 cm. Chinese philosopher, born around 604 BC. Founder of Tao-ism. His principal work is the Tao-te-king book about all things origin and effect. Provenance: Einer Bothmann Mengel, 1878-1945. He was married to Marthe Blanche Poulin (raised in French Indochina) December 29, 1917 in China, and the couple had two children. Einer Mengel was trained as an engineer. In 1897 he was employed at the Great Northern Telegraph Company's Gothenburg department, and in 1901 he was transferred to the company's East Asian staff and stationed in Shanghai. In 1904 he joined the Chinese telegraph administration service, first as manager of the station in Foochow and later the station in the province of Yunnan's capital Yunnanfu (now Kunming). Then he became manager of the main station in Beijing, before he finally returned to Yunnanfu, where he remained until he in 1926 left China and returned to Denmark. Estimates : 400000/500000 DKK