Page 131 - Chinese works of art and paintings, March 19 Bonhams

(two views)

8168
A MASSIVE FAMILLE-VERTE BISCUIT ENAMELED FIGURE
OF GUANDI
Kangxi period Such large figures are rare due to the difficulty of firing. They were
Modeled with great detail in the round, the deified hero portrayed susceptible to warping and cracking during drying and firing if the
seated on a tiger-skin draped throne, wearing a five-clawed dragon clay was too wet, or slumping, warpage and further cracking if
robe over scale-armor, the shoulder, knee, stomach and apron the clay was too dry. Gases also tended to build up inside hollow
guards decorated with yazi dragon masks and either appliqued or figures which could lead to the figure exploding or developing large
incised to depict the texture of the armor, crowned by a scholar’s cracks while firing. In the present figure there are numerous vent
hat over a military helmet, the face bearing a look of intense holes visible. In the base alone, there are five small and one large
concentration while contemplating the copy of the Spring and hole. Some of the holes have been plugged and painted over. The
Autumn Annals held in the right hand, the left hand holding a strand presence of these holes indicate the skill involved that have lead to
of the beard, the back of figure pierced with a square aperature, the the successful firing of this majestic figure.
back of the throne painted with a mountainous riverscape; with a
wood stand, the underside with incised bing character. Two slightly smaller (23 7/8in./60.6 cm) biscuit enameled Daoist
27in (68.5cm) high deities portraying the civilian and military gods of wealth, from the
collection of John D. Rockefeller Jr., and now in the Metropolitan
$20,000 - 40,000 Museum of Art, are illustrated in Suzanne G. Valenstein, A Handbook
of Chinese Ceramics, New York, 1989, col. pl. 33, and p. 228, no.
清康熙 素三彩關帝坐像 222 respectively.

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