Page 125 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022
P. 125

The inscription may be translated as follows:   Compare with a similar but smaller   The Goddess Mazu referred to in the text
           ‘Wuchang from Sasan town and believer Wu   example without inscription illustrated by   is the most worshipped Goddess of the
           Chang places (this lamp) at the tail (of the   R.H.Blumenfield, Blanc de Chine: The Great   sea, protector of seamen and sailors, and
           boat) to suppress (wind and waves). We have   Porcelain of Dehua, Hong Kong 2002,   capable of protecting them from storms and
           made a wish in front of the incense burner   no.35A. Another example is illustrated by   other water-related calamities. Mazu was
           (or lamp) to the Immortal Goddess (Mazu) to   P.J.Donnelly, Blanc de Chine, London 1969,   particularly revered in Fujian Province (where
           pray for peace and safeness. And the wish is   pl.40A.              Dehua is located, and the present lot was
           granted, hence we thank her with this (water)                       made), which as a coastal Province, had
           pot. On the auspicious day of the 11th month                        strong sea-faring traditions. These pieces
           in the 22nd year of the Kangxi period’.                             were probably intended to be placed on an
                                                                               altar in a temple dedicated to Mazu. Apart
                                                                               from the use as an oil lamp they could also
                                                                               have functioned as a waterpot or incense
                                                                               burner.































































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