Page 36 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art London Nov. 2019

23 TP
A RARE AND LARGE GILT-LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE
OF WENCHANG
17th century
The God of Literature carved seated wearing a scholar’s hat and long
cascading robes falling in folds over the legs revealing two slippers,
the left hand raised to the chest, his right hand resting on his knee, the
face with serene expression flanked by a pair of long pendulous ears,
the surface extensively gilt, wood stand.
90cm (35 1/2in) high. (2).

£60,000 - 80,000
CNY530,000 - 710,000

十七世紀 木漆金文昌帝君坐像

Displaying a remarkable level of refinement, evidenced in the exorcism. His cult ultimately achieved a national following; see S.Little,
upturned slippers and the intricate designs decorating the hems of Taoism and the Arts of China, Chicago, 2000, p.267.
the voluminuous robes cascading in multiple folds, the figure may be
identified as Wenchang Wang, the Daoist God of Culture and Literature. The technique of coating carved wood figures with gilt lacquer appears
First worshipped as a snake god known as ‘the viper’ in Sichuan during to have emerged during the early part of the Ming dynasty, continuing
the Six Dynasties period, he rose to prominence until by the Tang into the Qing dynasty and echoing in form and decoration Buddhist
dynasty he was worshipped as part of the Imperial cult. In the Song bronze figures. See a related gilt and lacquered wood figure of
dynasty the deity revealed himself in human form as a Daoist god, the Guanyin, Qing dynasty, in the British Museum (ref.no.OA+.7339).
Divine Lord of Zitong. From the Song period onwards, Wenchang was
widely worshiped by the literati, particularly candidates in the civil service A related large gilt-lacquered wood figure of Guanyin, 17th/18th
examinations; he was also venerated for his powers of healing and century, was sold at Bonhams London, 14 May 2015, lot 64.

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