Chinese Hand Carved Longma: Left Facing

On display, a crouching, horned beast turns its head back with a snarl and a swirly tail.

This hand carved longma facing left is from China, and dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. It is boxwood. Chinese carvers in boxwood made many small animal figures in the late Qing period and after, and the dense wood allows fine detail in manes and scales. Photographed straight, a small carved creature, curled low with its head twisted over one shoulder and its mouth open. Fluid, flame-like curls run along the haunches and tail, and one hoofed foot is tucked forward. The warm brown finish is glossy and smooth. It is 3.5 inches wide, 3.5 deep and 2.5 high.

Caught mid-glance, with a flourish in the tail for emphasis.