Page 46 - Bonhams Asian & Chinese Art November 2018

107 108

VARIOUS OWNERS
107 108
A BLANC-DE-CHINE FIGURE OF WENCHANG AND ACOLYTE A BLANC-DE-CHINE FIGURE OF GUANYIN
17th century Boji Yuren seal mark, 19th century
The God of Literature finely modelled seated on a rocky outcrop The standing figure of the Bodhisattva of Mercy raised upon a wave
wearing a scholar’s cap, the serene face with indentations for a plinth, wearing long flowing robes open at the chest, the face flanked
moustache and beard, the left hand hidden within the long-sleeved with the long hair in bunches and crowned with a tiara, the hands in
robe and the other holding a scroll, accompanied by a small bearded mudra, the reverse with an impressed seal mark ‘virtue extends to all,
acolyte 24cm (9 1/2in) high even fishermen’.
49cm (19 1/4in) high
£1,000 - 1,500
HK$10,000 - 15,000 £3,000 - 5,000
CNY9,000 - 13,000 HK$31,000 - 51,000
CNY27,000 - 45,000
Wenchang, the God of Literature, has been variously associated with
figures from the Jin, Tang and Song Dynasties. He was believed to be 109 *
the bearer of good luck for ill-prepared examination candidates and A BLANC-DE-CHINE FIGURE OF GUANYIN ATOP A LION
often holds as in the present example a scroll containing the results Boji Yuren seal mark, Qing Dynasty
of the examinations. The God is variously modelled on his own or The Bodhisattva of compassion modelled seated upon a large
with Zhuyi, the distributor of examination results, Guixing, a demon- ferocious Buddhist lion, wearing long robes and hair in bunches,
like figure and often is depicted with two attendants, Tianlong and the left hand holding a pearl of wisdom, the figure covered in a fine
Diya, one of which is probably modelled in the present lot. creamy glaze. 23cm (9in) high

Compare similar blanc-de-Chine figures of Wenchang, illustrated by
P.J.Donnelly, Blanc De Chine: The Porcelain of Têhua in Fukien, New £1,500 - 2,000
York, 1967, pls.96 A and B (Wenchang with Guixing); R.Kerr and HK$15,000 - 20,000
J.Ayers, Blanc De Chine: Porcelain from Dehua, Chicago, 2002, pl.28 CNY13,000 - 18,000
(Wenchang and Zhuyi); and R.H.Blumenfield, Blanc De Chine: The
Great Porcelain of Dehua, Berkeley, 2002, p.105 pl.C (Wenchang). Provenance
From the estate of the late Sylvia Graucob.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
44 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.