Antique Carved, Painted Wooden Chinese Figure on Base spencerian portrait Very sturdy and sound

Very sturdy and sound

perhaps Chinese inspired but a one of a kind thing

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

the Chinaberry tree is prone to a specific wood-parasitic infection which causes the tree branch to burst open

which is reminiscent of the figural stoppers of Erik Hoglund (mid-century Swedish)

Antique Carved, Painted Wooden Chinese Figure on Base spencerian portrait Very sturdy and soundBased 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