Material Porcelain
Dimensions 31 cm
Place of Creation China
Price 13.000 euros
Status Vetted

About the Work

The figure is well-modeled as Wenchang, the Daoist God of Literature, seated on a pierced rocky ledge. He is wearing a long robe and two stiff belts that frame his rounded belly, the lower belt with “jade” plaques. He wears an official's hat and is holding a ruyi scepter in his left hand, the other concealed within the sleeve. His face is pierced in order to attach a moustache and beard. The figure is covered in a cream glaze.


Wenchang, the deity who is represented as an earthly minister, is believed to have assisted devotees in achieving success in the civil examinations and is therefore regarded as one of the gods who will facilitate the path to social acceptance and material rewards.

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Provenance

From a private Belgian collection

Literature

An identical model is published by J.P. Van Goidsenhoven in La Céramique Chinoise sous les Ts’ing – 1644-1851

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