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Guanyin

Figure of Guanyin
18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
dehua (made)

This figure of the Bodhisattva Guanyin was made in kilns at Dehua, in the south-eastern coastal province of Fujian. These kilns were close to major export ports such as Amoy (Xiamen) or Canton (Guangzhou). Dehua porcelain was creamy-white, hard and very translucent. It was known in Europe as 'Blanc de Chine'. European merchants trading with China appreciated the skilful modelling of such figures, and the fact that they represented Chinese deities made them popular items from the far-away Orient.


Object details

Categories
Porcelain
Figures & Decorative Ceramics
Object type
Figure of guanyin
TitleGuanyin (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Porcelain, glazed, moulded
Porcelain
Moulded
Glazing
Brief description
Figure of Guanyin, China, Dehua, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Physical description
Figure made of porcelain, depicting Guanyin seated on a rock with a boy on her lap.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.1cm
Styles
Dehua
Blanc De Chine
Subjects depicted
送子觀音
孩嬰
典籍 (佛教)
懷抱
Summary
This figure of the Bodhisattva Guanyin was made in kilns at Dehua, in the south-eastern coastal province of Fujian. These kilns were close to major export ports such as Amoy (Xiamen) or Canton (Guangzhou). Dehua porcelain was creamy-white, hard and very translucent. It was known in Europe as 'Blanc de Chine'. European merchants trading with China appreciated the skilful modelling of such figures, and the fact that they represented Chinese deities made them popular items from the far-away Orient.
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
CIRC.98-1929

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O495317/guanyin-figure-of-guanyin-unknown/
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