Figure
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This figure was made at the Shiwan kilns in Guangdong province, southern China. Shiwan was famous for the production of stoneware objects decorated with thick, glossy and colourful glazes; several of them bear the mark of individual artists or companies. Tile making was one of the specialised activities in Shiwan.
This figure represents Houyi, the Sun God, holding the disc of the sun and standing on clouds. The body posture and facial expressions, executed in a realistic manner, were taken from actors performing Cantonese opera, while the elaborate jewellery and colourful garments were inspired by stage costumes.
Three-dimensional figures portraying deities or mythological characters were placed in elaborate architectural friezes that decorated the walls of temples or pagodas. Similar figures can be seen in situ in Daoist and ancestral temples in Guangdong and northern Vietnam.
This figure represents Houyi, the Sun God, holding the disc of the sun and standing on clouds. The body posture and facial expressions, executed in a realistic manner, were taken from actors performing Cantonese opera, while the elaborate jewellery and colourful garments were inspired by stage costumes.
Three-dimensional figures portraying deities or mythological characters were placed in elaborate architectural friezes that decorated the walls of temples or pagodas. Similar figures can be seen in situ in Daoist and ancestral temples in Guangdong and northern Vietnam.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Stoneware with lead and alkaline glazes |
| Brief description | Figure representing Hou Yi, the sun god, stoneware with alkaline and lead glazes, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century |
| Physical description | Stoneware figure representing an old man with a long beard standing on stylised clouds and holding a disc, wearing a robe with applied decorations; the surface is decorated with blue alkaline glaze and green and yellow lead glazes; the face and hands are unglazed |
| Dimensions |
|
| Styles | |
| Object history | The figure was lent to the Museum by the High Majesty Commissioners in 1871 for the International Exhibition, together with two other ceramics from Foshan. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This figure was made at the Shiwan kilns in Guangdong province, southern China. Shiwan was famous for the production of stoneware objects decorated with thick, glossy and colourful glazes; several of them bear the mark of individual artists or companies. Tile making was one of the specialised activities in Shiwan. This figure represents Houyi, the Sun God, holding the disc of the sun and standing on clouds. The body posture and facial expressions, executed in a realistic manner, were taken from actors performing Cantonese opera, while the elaborate jewellery and colourful garments were inspired by stage costumes. Three-dimensional figures portraying deities or mythological characters were placed in elaborate architectural friezes that decorated the walls of temples or pagodas. Similar figures can be seen in situ in Daoist and ancestral temples in Guangdong and northern Vietnam. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic reference | Lippincott, Kristen (ed.), The story of time London, National Maritime Museum, 1999
p.33 |
| Other number | HMC.80 - H.M.C. Loan no. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | HMC CD.80/1 |
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| Record created | March 13, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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