Modelled seated in the posture of royal ease, the figure of Guanyin holds a scroll and is dressed in long, flowing robes that fall in soft, rhythmic folds. The serene expression, gently downcast eyes and composed bearing convey a sense of quiet contemplation. The surface is covered in a creamy, warm ivory tone. The base bears an impressed He Chaozong mark within a double gourd.
A Dehua figure of a seated Guanyin
Description
Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722), impressed He Chaozong mark within a double gourd
Dimensions: 22.5 cm high
Provenance:
Lempertz, Cologne, 28 November 1997, lot 228
Collection Annelotte Elbrecht (1924-2013)
A private Dutch collection
Modelled seated in the posture of royal ease, the figure of Guanyin holds a scroll and is dressed in long, flowing robes that fall in soft, rhythmic folds. The serene expression, gently downcast eyes and composed bearing convey a sense of quiet contemplation. The surface is covered in a creamy, warm ivory tone. The base bears an impressed He Chaozong mark within a double gourd.
Dehua, or Blanc-de-chine figures of this type represent the finest output of the Dehua kilns in Fujian province, which achieved particular renown during the late Ming and early Qing periods for their refined monochrome porcelains. The sculptural quality of these figures, often associated with the workshop of He Chaozong, is distinguished by a balance of simplicity and elegance, with an emphasis on expressive yet restrained modelling.
Figures of Guanyin were especially popular, reflecting both devotional practice and literati taste. The present example is notable for the clarity of its form and the quality of its glaze.
Compare an identical example in the Percival David Foundation (PDF A.462) and Ayers, Blanc de Chine, p. 83.
