Chinese statue shoulao riding deer - age?

First, I don't know if pieces like this belong in Tribal Art or in Porcelain section; but I'll start here and please move this if it doesn't belong here.

I know this piece has many issues like missing parts and therefore relatively low value compared to one that isn't missing parts. But I really like it, and I also think it has age, and those are my primary concerns (I'm not looking to resell but looking for authenticity in order to learn more by observing up close). I have a lot of pieces I'm curious about, this is just the most recent I got last week.

So what do I have and how old is it; and besides gut feel from experience with other antiques (which is what I go on now), what should I look for in evaluating old Asian pottery? Any books to highly recommend?

 

that hole in it's head says , modern Chinese to me...

 

Hadn't noticed it, it is the only hole and I assume a vent hole for the piece (though could be to hold an incense stick?), very small compared to modern size hole for slipware, and necessary I think to keep the head neck and chest from exploding. I know one indication of antique vs modern Staffordshire pottery is the size of the vent hole with old ones having small holes like this. That said, I'll poke a wire down it to check depth and check a couple other Chinese figurines I've come across to see if they have similar.

I should have mentioned this is quite large (12-1/2 in) and heavy. The hole goes all the way through the piece from the top of head to the deer's rear end. Lots of dust and remnants of a couple wood sticks inside. I'll post pics tomorrow. Also looks like colors and general style referred to as Sancai.

 

A little more research, apparently Sancai incense or joss stick holders was a "thing", as there are numerous old ones when I do a search. I also have a pair of Chinese parrots, similar construction and age that also have incense holes on top, so I don't think that makes this modern. Here's the pics I took showing the stick remnants that I pushed out with a wire, and a bottom view showing where the hole comes out. ,

 

maybe you should put this on the Pottery Forum , to get more seasoned eyes on it....

 

Bumping to see if @Asian Fever knows anything about this piece?

 

Sancai longevity god. Contemporary to vintage to me.
He's forehead is not a traditional style of longevity god, I forget where it is made ,but not in Shanxi province nor Shaanxi province.