China, 17^th century. Well modeled standing with one leg raised and leaning against his iron crutch, carrying his double-gourd vase over the shoulder. Wearing a long flowing robe and characteristic leaf skirt. The facial features finely modeled with distinct eyes and a curly mustache and beard, the hair secured with a band tied at the forehead.

Provenance: Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes, Paris, inventory number 17552, acquired in 1965. The Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes (China and India Company) in Paris was founded in the early 20^th century by the Blazy brothers, acquired in 1935 by Robert Rousset and later run by his grandnephews Mike Winter-Rousset and Hervé du Peuty. With his sister Suzanne in charge of the porcelain, Robert Rousset developed the business, and the company became one of the most important dealers for Asian art in France, selling pieces to the greatest museums, including the Guimet and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Condition: Presenting well with some old wear, firing flaws, minor areas with small touchups (inspected under strong blue light), few tiny chips and losses. The figure re-attached to the tile. Overall as expected for this type of ware and commensurate with age.

Weight: 5.0 kg
Dimensions: Height 48.5 cm (incl. base) and 44.5 cm (excl. base)

Mounted to a fitted hardwood base dating to the early 20^th century. (2)

The roof tile is modeled as one of the ‘Eight Immortals’, Li Tieguai (Iron Crutch Li). Li appears as a lame beggar supported by an iron crutch. He carries a gourd which holds medicine that cures the sick and ailing. Traditionally he has been seen as the protector of physicians. Although he may appear ugly and is generally considered irascible and ill-tempered, according to Chinese mythology, he was benevolent to the poor, sick and needy.

Literature comparison: See a sancai figure of Liu Hai, in the Peabody Museum of Salem, illustrated in William R. Sargent, The Copeland Collection. Chinese and Japanese Ceramic Figures, Salem, 1991, pl. 26, together with a famille verte figure of a Lohan, pl. 12. Compare also a famille noire biscuit figure of Li Tieguai sold at Christie's New York, 4th June 1992, lot 271; and a group figure of Li Tieguai and He Xiangu, from the Montague Meyer collection, sold at Christie's London, 14th April 1980, lot 314.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related but slightly smaller (39.5 cm high) and later sancai-glazed biscuit figure of Li Tieguai, dated to the Kangxi period, at Sotheby’s London in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 7 November 2007, lot 339, sold for GBP 10,000.

明末三彩鐵拐李
中國，十七世紀。鐵拐李單足而立，靠在他的鐵拐杖上，肩上扛著他的葫蘆瓶。面部表情生動，眉目清晰，頭髮和鬍鬚捲曲，佩戴髮箍。

來源：巴黎Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes公司，庫存編號17552，購於1965年。 位於巴黎的 Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes公司於 20 世紀初由 Blazy 兄弟創立，1935 年由 Robert Rousset 收購，後來由他的外甥 Mike Winter-Rousset 和 Hervé du Peuty 經營。 Robert Rousset 與他的妹妹 Suzanne 負責瓷器，並大力發展這項業務，該公司成為法國最重要的亞洲藝術品經銷商之一，向最大的博物館出售藝術品，包括吉美博物館和大都會藝術博物館。
品相：一些舊時磨損，燒製缺陷，小區域的修補（在強藍光下檢查），少量微小的碎片和缺損。 人偶經過再次粘補貼在瓷磚上。 總體而言，這種類型的人俑符合預期並且與其年齡相符。

重量：5.0 公斤
尺寸：高48.5 厘米 (含底座) ，44.5 厘米 (不含底座)

二十世紀初的硬木底座。 (2)

拍賣結果比較：一件相近但稍小 (高39.5 厘米) 的康熙朝三彩鉄拐李像， 見倫敦蘇富比Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2007年11月7日 lot 339, 售價GBP 10,000。