Description: A Chinese carving of the God of Longevity, Shou Lao. He is standing with a peach and staff in hand. A smaller man beneath the peach, with a peach in hand. Fine detail on a caramel rust colored stone.


History: Soapstone (also known as steatite, or soaprock) is a talc-schist., which is a type of metamorphic rock. It is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich in magnesium. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occurs in the zones where tectonic plates are subducted, changing rocks by heat and pressure, with influx of fluids, but without melting. It has been a medium for carving for thousands of years. Soapstone is relatively soft because of its high talc content, talc having a definitional value of 1 on the Mohs hardness scale. Softer grades may feel soapy when touched, hence the name. There is no fixed hardness for soapstone because the amount of talc it contains varies widely, from as little as 30% for architectural grades such as those used on countertops, to as much as 80% for carving grades. Common, non-architectural grades of soapstone can just barely be scratched with a fingernail and are thus considered to have a hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale. If a candidate rock cannot be scratched with a knife blade (hardness of 5.5), it is not soapstone.
The oldest identifiable soapstone sculptures date back more than 3,000 years. The oldest identified soapstone crafts where made by artisans in China. Experts believe that artwork made of soapstone has survived throughout the centuries because humidity does not cause the stones to break down. The Ming Dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644, saw the height of soapstone production in China. Soapstone became the standard as jade prices rose, making it too expensive for many artists.

Provenance: FL Estate


Dimensions: Weight (Pounds & Ounces) = 1 | Height(in) = 10 | Width(in) = 6 | Depth(in) = 6

Size of Artwork(in): 6 x 1.25 x 3"


Artist Name: Chinese signed


Medium: Soapstone


Circa: 1930

Very good condition.