Guanyin
Figure
1620-1700 (made)
1620-1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Porcelain figures of Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of Compassion, were popular products of the Dehua kilns in Fujian province, south-east China. Dehua was the second largest producer of ceramics, including export ware, after Jingdezhen.
Moulded and finished by hand, these figures were usually placed on household altars and worshipped as devotional images in China. During the17th century they became popular in Europe, where the body and colour of the Dehua ware, also known as 'blanc de Chine', were much admired. The figures were placed on tables and cabinets in the residences of aristocrats and wealthy people, or exhibited in the so-called 'porcelain rooms', where walls and niches were completely filled with large quantities of ceramics. One of the most important European collections of this type belonged to Augustus the Strong of Saxony (d. 1733), who owned over twenty thousand pieces.
Moulded and finished by hand, these figures were usually placed on household altars and worshipped as devotional images in China. During the17th century they became popular in Europe, where the body and colour of the Dehua ware, also known as 'blanc de Chine', were much admired. The figures were placed on tables and cabinets in the residences of aristocrats and wealthy people, or exhibited in the so-called 'porcelain rooms', where walls and niches were completely filled with large quantities of ceramics. One of the most important European collections of this type belonged to Augustus the Strong of Saxony (d. 1733), who owned over twenty thousand pieces.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Guanyin (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain with clear glaze |
| Brief description | Figure of Guanyin, moulded porcelain with clear glaze, Dehua ware, ca.1620-1700 |
| Physical description | Porcelain figure of Guanyin with clear glaze, seated on a rock work; a child with folded hands standing next to her. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Styles | |
| Gallery label | Guanyin, goddess of mercy, with disciple
China, Dehua, 1620–1700
Museum no. 1123-1875(September 2009) |
| Object history | Purchased from Siegfried Bing (Paris), accessioned in 1875. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Porcelain figures of Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of Compassion, were popular products of the Dehua kilns in Fujian province, south-east China. Dehua was the second largest producer of ceramics, including export ware, after Jingdezhen. Moulded and finished by hand, these figures were usually placed on household altars and worshipped as devotional images in China. During the17th century they became popular in Europe, where the body and colour of the Dehua ware, also known as 'blanc de Chine', were much admired. The figures were placed on tables and cabinets in the residences of aristocrats and wealthy people, or exhibited in the so-called 'porcelain rooms', where walls and niches were completely filled with large quantities of ceramics. One of the most important European collections of this type belonged to Augustus the Strong of Saxony (d. 1733), who owned over twenty thousand pieces. |
| Bibliographic reference | Kerr, Rose and Luisa E. Mengoni Chinese Export Ceramics London: V&A Publishing, 2011, p.126, pl.179 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1123-1875 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 8, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
