A Finely Carved Ivory Ornament of Figures in Mussel (6cm in length), Qing Dynasty, estimated price is 60,000. Cast into mussel shaped with high quality ivory, and inside a thatched cottage, steam, on arched bridge three kids walking, the whole sculpture is carved subtly, so animated and unique. (pic. 8) 
  A Finely Carved Ivory Casket (13.2cm in length, 8.5cm in width), Qing Dynasty, estimated price is 100,000. This casket is very delicate in high relief with floral patterns, flowers, birthday peaches, butterflies and prunus formed the whole decoration motif. The whole casket body carved elegantly, panels in top and bottom with pavilions and figures under pine trees carved in. Then you can see the smooth inside body and the clear ivory texture after you open the box, very animated and delicate. (pic. 9)
 
         (pic. 8) A Finely Carved Ivory Ornament of Figures in Mussel             
         (pic. 9) A Finely Carved Ivory Casket

  A Finely Carved Magu Figure Holding Flowers (22cm in height), Qing Dynasty, estimated price is 150,000. Magu, a goddess in the ancient legend, 3rd May she made the sacred wine with the ganoderma along the riverside and congratulated on Queen mother’s birthday. In the ancient time, people always used Magu as the gift to a female’s birthday. She held a bottle of flowers in blossom with hair highly arranged, calm and peaceful, a deer next to her with ganoderma in its mouth, looking upward. The whole sculpture is smooth and clear, can be regarded as a representative work during Qing dynasty. (pic. 10)
  An Ivory Figure of Zhang Guolao (18.5cm in height), Qing Dynasty, estimated price is 80,000. In Taoist, this figure was named Great Master Guolao transcending from Zhang Guo in Tang Dynasty. According to the historical material, Zhang Guolao, an immortal who could play magic arts with a fishing drum, lived in Zhi Tiao Mt. in Heng Zhou and he Zhang Guolao used to travel tens of thousands of miles on a donkey, sitting backwards. This present sculpture is an ivory figure of Zhang Guolao ridding a donkey. Wearing a Taoist crown, a fan in his right hand, a rope in his left hand, sitting directly on the donkey, eyes slightly closed, he looks calm and peaceful, there is a kid holding an Eight Diagrams pattern in front, animated and cute. (pic. 11)
              
   (pic. 10) A Finely Carved Magu Figure Holding Flowers 
   (pic. 11) An Ivory Figure of Zhang Guolao 

  An Ivory Standing Figure (32.5cm in height with base), Qing Dynasty, estimated price is 150,000. The Fairy stood on a rounded base with the typical hairstyle; she held a cane hanging a basket full of sacred peaches in her right hand, a horsetail whisk in her right hand lifting above her head. She wore a long skirt decorated with floral patterns, ornamentation surrounded her waist, elegant and gorgeous, and she looked so beautiful and gentle. Characterized by shape carved according to the curve of the ivory, and the decoration is with the ivory shape next to the figure, the whole sculpture is very artful and delicate, fully indicated the craftsmen’s skill and conception. (pic. 12)
  An Ivory Baluster Vase Zun with Beasts’ Faces (27cm in height), Qing Dynasty, estimated price is 180,000. This ivory vase is imitated the type of the ancient bronze vessels, flaring mouth, drum-shaped body and foot ring sprayed. Some balusters along the whole body from the top down, animal head appliqué holding rings surround neck, body and feet decorated with beasts’ faces also, inside smooth and natural, combined the exquisite skill and delicate conception, showed us a beautiful ivory ware. (pic. 13)
            
      (pic. 11) An Ivory Standing Figure
      (pic. 13) An Ivory Baluster Vase Zun with Beasts’ Faces

  A Set of Ivory Figures of Eight Immortals, Qing Dynasty, estimated price is 500,000 for a set. (pic. 14) 
Lv Dongbin (16.5cm in height with base) A famous Taoist whose name was Yan, he styled himself Chunyangzi, which implied that he enjoyed a body of pure Yang. It is said that after his repeated failures in the imperial examination, he started to travel around, and then finally became one of the immortals. It is said that he could clear all the demons and save suffering people with his sward. With Taoist crown, good looking, a horsetail whisk in his right hand, and left hand touching his beard, wide sleeve naturally drops down and a big sward on his back, this present Lv Dongbin widely opened eyes but a smile on his face also, standing on the wooden floral base, the whole sculpture is delicately carved and the ivory texture smooth and gorgeous, in good preservation  
  Chao, the Emperor’s Brother-in-Law (16.5cm in height with base) It is said that he was the disciple of Lv Dongbin according to the historical material called “Hun Yuan Xian Pai Tu”, and also from another historical material, said he was the Queen Mother’s younger brother, because he was executed for murdering, he was so ashamed that he decided to live in the mountains as a hermit. Since then, he wore simple clothes, devoting himself to the Refinement of Dao. After receiving teachings from Lu Dongbin and Zhongli Quan, he got the secret formula for refinement, and ultimately attained Dao, becoming a Perfect Man. He was led to the Heavenly World by Zhongli Quan and Lu Dongbin With vestment and hat, this present ivory Chao put his left hand on his waist and right hand holds his typical plate, beard flutters, and face looks calm and leisurely with a smile. The whole sculpture is carved with master hand in good quality ivory texture with a wooden floral base also.  
  Fairy He (16.5cm in height with base) She was the only female among the Eight Immortals. It was said that her personal name was Qiong and that she came from Zeng Cheng, Guangzhou city, and that she was born on the tenth day of the fourth lunar month. Once she dreamed that a spirit taught her how to eat mica powder. Since then, she swore not to marry. She used to be seen flying to and fro in the deep mountains. With the typical hair style, a lotus in blossom in hands, this present ivory fairy looks so calm and contented, a big smile on her face and eyes slightly closed, she stands on a wooden floral base, the whole sculpture is so elegant and smooth.  
  Zhang Guolao (16.5cm in height with base) He was a Taoist who lived in the Tang dynasty. His surname was Zhang, and his personal name was Guo. He used to cultivate Dao as a hermit on Mt. Zhongtiao. According to the historical material, Zhang Guo was a real person not only in legend, he was a folk wizard, and people called him as a male fairy. He claimed that he was born during the Yao era, so he was too old to know his real age. He declined appointments by the Tang dynasty emperors Tai and Gao as he was dead, even his corpse became rotten. But sooner later someone saw him in the deep mountain again. With the Taoist crown and long robe, holding a drum in his right hand, the long beard floating with a smile on his face, he stared directly forward and wide sleeves drops naturally, the ivory figure looks calm and leisurely, standing on a wooden floral base. The whole sculpture is animated and vivid in good preservation.  
  Iron Stick Li (16.3cm in height with base) It was said that Iron Stick Li’s surname was Li, and his personal name Ningyang or Hongshui. In childhood, his nickname was Crippled Kid. He normally called himself Minor Official Li. About his history there were a lot of sayings. One is like this: one day he was transformed by the Queen Mother, and was given an iron stick also. One is he used to beg in the street, then he threw his iron stick into the sky which became a flying dragon, he rode the dragon and flew away. And there is another saying: he became a fairy because he met the one of the fairies, at the invitation of the Supreme Venerable Sovereign and Gentleman Wanqiu, Li’s soul would visit Mt. Hua. Prior to his departure, he ordered his disciple to take care of his body during his seven-day absence. Unfortunately, on the sixth day, because disciple’s mother was terribly sick, he had to go home. In a hurry, he burned the master’s body. When Li’s soul came back the next day, he could not find his body. His soul was homeless. So he had to attach his soul to the body of a man who had died of hunger. That explained why he looked so ugly and had a crippled right leg. With Taoist robe bared his breast, stared directly, he looks affable and natural, he’s leaning on a stick on right and holding a guard on left, he can save human suffering, and settle their problems, the shape of this figure is very cute and interesting, the ivory texture is strong and smooth with a wooden floral base.  
  Lan Caihe (16.3cm in height with base) Lan was a hermit in the Tang dynasty. According to the Supplement to the Biographies of the Immortals, and the Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, he normally wore blue rags, and had only one shoe. He used to emerge in cities, singing and begging, with a pair of three-chi-long castanets in his hands. Through his songs, he urged people to go away from the secular world and pursue Tao. It is said that he was led by Zhongli Quan to Tao and ultimately ascended to the clouds. Wearing a long robe, sleeves drops down naturally, a flower basket in his right hand, a flower in blossom in his left hand, he dressed like a kid, smile on his face, stands on a wooden floral base, the whole sculpture is carved in good quality ivory texture, elegant and exquisite.  
  Han Xiangzi (16cm in height with base) His personal name was Xiang, and he styled himself Qingfu. It was said that he was Han Yu’s grandnephew. Even in his childhood, Han Xiangzi didn’t study but only drunk and began to follow Lv Dongbin and learnt Tao. One day he visited Han Yu, his uncle was so worried about him that asked what he planned to do in the future, he said:” I have my own skill but you don’t know.” Then Han Yu asked:” Well what can you do?” It was in winter, and Han Xiangzi made the peony blossomed in various colors and gather the pot together and flowers blossomed at once. Han Yu now believed his grandnephew was not a normal person. Wearing a long robe with a typical hair style, this present figure holds a cross flute as if he’s going to play music all around and make all flowers blossom, all living things grow, the whole sculpture is rather animated and skillful. 
  Zhong Hanli (16cm in height with base) His surname was Zhongli and his personal name Quan, which, in later times, was changed to Jue. He came from Yantai, and styled himself Jidao. Known as Heguzi or Zhenyangzi, he was worshiped as Patriarch Zhenyang. It is said that brilliant rays rose just like flames when he was born. Then after grew up, he met iron stick Li and went to the mountain for Tao. He could kill the ferocious tiger and change stone into gold to save poor people, and then he flew to the sky and became an immortal. Bares his breast, holding a fan in right, left hand touching his long beard, this present figure Zhongli Quan looks happy and serene. It is said that his fan can save the dead people and can settle people’s trouble. The whole sculpture is made of good quality of ivory with skillful work. The figure is animated and lifelike.

                                       (pic. 14) A Set of Ivory Figures of Eight Immortals, Qing Dynasty