Chinese Soapstone Sculpture - God of Longevity

This hand carved Quing Dynasty (1644-1911) soapstone sculpture is of the Chinese Daoist Shou Lao "God of Longevity". He is an elderly Immortal with a uniquely large cranium (head) representing wisdom, long ears, a long beard representing a long life, drooping eyebrows and flowing robes. He is sitting on what appears to be pinecones, another symbol of immortality. In his left hand he is holding the peach of immortality. In his right hand he is holding a magnificent walking stick with a Foo Dog or Lion dog at the top of the walking stick. Towards the top of the walking stick is an attached gourd that holds special life-giving elixirs. He is accompanied by a very large Foo Dog or Lion Dog whose head is sideways at the top of the sculpture. This magnificent soapstone sculpture becomes more transparent depending on the lighting source near the sculpture. The natural colors of the soapstone are brown, beige, and orange blended with transparency. The back of the sculpture is a symbolic design where the front side is of the large Foo Dog or Lion Dog. The back of deity's robes is hand carved. The pinecones are on the back of the sculpture. There are several repairs to the soapstone sculpture as well as a few cracks. However, it doesn't diminish the significance and beauty of this antique soapstone sculpture. Dimensions: 6 1/4" x 2" x 1 1/4".