North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Timeless Treasures: 19th C. Native, Western Photographs & French Elegance

Sat, Sep 13, 2025 11:00AM EDT
  2025-09-13 11:00:00 2025-09-13 11:00:00 America/New_York North American Auction Company North American Auction Company : Timeless Treasures: 19th C. Native, Western Photographs & French Elegance https://live.naabid.com/auctions/north-american-auction/timeless-treasures-19th-c-native-western-photographs-french-elegance-20467
Join us Saturday, September 13th at 9am MT in Bozeman, MT for Timeless Treasures: 19th C. Native, Western Photographs & French Elegance. This exceptional auction features a remarkable collection of 19th-century Native American artifacts, rare Western photography by Haynes, Huffman, and other Montana photographers, and an impressive selection of 18th-century French furniture. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to acquire historic and elegant treasures. Browse the full catalog at live.naabid.com
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Lot 513

Chinese Hand Carved Wood Mud Man Sculptures (3)

Estimate: $300 - $600
Starting Bid
$100

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
Featured in this lot are three Chinese hand carved wood Mud Men sculptures from the 20th century. Mud Men sculptures, or San Cai sculptures originated in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and were first made with glazed ceramaics. Initially, they were used to populate miniature landscapes called Penjing, which were the precursors to modern bonsai. These figurines, often depicting people, animals, and mythical creatures, became popular for their decorative and symbolic value, reflecting aspects of Chinese life and beliefs. These sculptures have been hand carved from wood and show fishing themes. The first and largest shows a man carrying a basket as he walks to or from the river. His hat is removable and he smiles as he goes about his day. The second sculpture shows a man holding a fish and has his basket attached to his back. The third and smallest sculpture shows a man carrying three fish on a stick and a basket in his hand. They all show bright white teeth and eyes. None of the sculptures are marked. The largest features a faded stamp but is unreadable. They show good condition overall with some wear present from their age and use over the years, but no major signs of damage is noted. Slight cracks present in the largest but no major signs of damage. They measure from 3 1/2" L x 3 3/4" W x 12" H to 2 3/8" L x 2 5/8" W x 6" H. They have a collective weight of 2 pounds and 4 ounces.

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