Page 137 - Christies May 9, 2017 Kensington
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126 The base is incised with the signature Shanren Chen Wei (The mountain
man Chen Wei or The hermit Chen Wei) in regular script, followed by the
A DEHUA FIGURE OF GUANYIN impressed seal mark of Chen Wei in a square.
MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)
The ceramic sculptor Chen Wei (dates unknown) is discussed by P.J.
The bodhisattva is modelled with hands held in the respectful gesture of Donnelly in Blanc de Chine, New York, 1969, pp. 284, and cites a Dehua
salutation, anjali mudra. A well-detailed foliate crown centered around a fgure of Guanyin in the British Museum, London, that bears the same
depiction of Amitabha Buddha surmounts the head above the serene face inscription and seal as the present piece, pp. 359.
which has a ‘third eye’ in the centre of the forehead. The bodhisattva, draped in
long robes and fowing scarves, is seated in dhyanasana on a double lotus base. A seated fgure of Guanyin with the same inscription can be found in the
The reverse is inscribed Shanren Chen Wei, which may be translated as ‘The British Museum collection, no. Franks.76.+
Mountain man Chen Wei’, with an impressed seal from the artist.
13√ in. (35 cm.) high 明初 德化白釉鬥母元君坐像 山人陳偉刻款
£8,000-12,000 $11,000-15,000
€9,300-14,000
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