A Rare Large Kangxi Blanc de Chine Porcelain Model of The Virgin Mary Carrying the Infant Christ.
A Very Rare and Unusually Large Kangxi Blanc de Chine Porcelain Model of The Virgin Mary Carrying the Infant Christ. Dehua Kilns, Fujian Province, Kangxi Period c.1670-1720. From the collection of The painter Clemens Merkelbach van Enkhuizen (1937-2023). A similar Blanc de Chine model from the collection of J.P. Donnelly is now in the British Museum, see ‘Information’ below the Photograph Gallery. A example that matches the present figure, also from the collection of J.P. Donnelly now in the British Museum, see ‘References’. Figures called Sancta Marias‘ (blessed Marys) are recorded, for example, in the sale list for the cargo of the Nassau, an English ship which returned to England from Amoy (Xiamen) in 1699 (Oriental Export Market Porcelain by Geoffrey Godden, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, pp. 259-60). Christian Blanc de Chine figures are very rare, many like the present example, seem to merge the Christian image of Mary and Child with hints of the Chinese deity Guanyin holding a child. After all, both were a representation of divine a mother and a mother’s love for her child. By contrast, base of this model shows two very angry, hellish looking monster faces, similar to taotie masks. This version is crisply moulded, and especially unusual in that the legs are ‘free standing’. The Infant Christ is pulling on the lower part of a Catholic rosary, yet Ming and Kangxi models of Guanyin often show her with a decorated string of beads.
See Below For More Photographs and Information.
RESERVED
- Condition
- Some damage, the child's left arm is partly missing, both of the Virgin Mary's hands are damaged, there is a chip to the Virgin Mary's cloak.
- Size
- Height 44 cm (17.3 inches).
- Provenance
- The painter Clemens Merkelbach van Enkhuizen (1937-2023) and his partner, Gerard Spruyt (1922-2011) bought the neglected canal house in 1970, Keizersgracht 374. After a years-long restoration, the building was donated to Stadsherstel in 2016, with the condition that the painter was able to live there until his death. Their warm and beautiful canal house housed numerous objects and was a true eye-catcher for many visitors. Both gentlemen were known for their passion for collecting, for example the Roman Catholic Clemens collected nativity scenes and other religious objects. Gerard collected Chinese and Japanese porcelain, Japanese woodcuts, netsukes, snuff bottles and other Asian items (in the photo, lot number 4201). Largely beautifully arranged in display cabinets, spread over all floors of the building as well as in the garden house. He built up this extensive collection of Asian art from the 1970s to the early 21st century through purchases at auctions such as Mak van Waay, De Zon and de Zwaan, as well as from antique dealers in the Spiegelkwartier. He leaves behind a large and varied oeuvre. Drawings of characteristic Amsterdam cityscapes have been included in the collection of the City Archives, work went to various museums and portraits found their way to family and friends as well as Dutch celebrities. It was his wish that a sales exhibition would be organized with the work that hung in his studio. Peter van Dael, a good friend, has put together the beautiful exhibition. The proceeds will benefit Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder, the museum that was very close to the heart of Mr. Merkelbach van Enkhuizen.
- Stock number
- 27519
- References
- For a matching figure from the collection of J.P. Donnelly, now in the collection of the British Museum, is illustrated in 'Blanc de Chine' (P.J. Donnelly. Faber and Faber 1969. SBN 571-08078-2) plate 122 B. For a related Blanc de Chine Virgin Mary, see 'Information', towards the bottom of the page. For another Blanc de Chine figure of this type see : Símbolos e Imagens do Reflexos Cristianismo na Porcelana Chinesa (Museu de São Roque,various authors. Comissao Nacional para as Comemoraçoes dos Descobrimentos Portugueses, 1996. ISBN 972-8325-09/6)
Photos
Information
A Rare Kangxi Blanc de Chine Porcelain Model of the Virgin Mary
Robert McPherson Antiques - Sold Archive.
Condition
Good, the Virgin's left hand is repaired and the fingers of her left hand are also repaired.
Size
Height : 22 cm (8 1/2 inches)
Stock number
229821
References
For a larger (37 cm) Blanc de Chine Madonna and child of this type standing on a Buddhistic lion see : Fine Chinese Export Porcelain, Christie`s London, May 13th 1996, lot 214. Another Blanc de Chine Madonna and child of this type standing on a Buddhistic lion, this time 34.3 cm high can be seen in : China for the West, Chinese Porcelain & other Decorative Arts for Export Illustrated from the Mottahedeh Collection (David S. Howard and John Ayers, Sotheby`s,1978) Volume 1, page 91, plate 50. For a blanc de chine figure of this model see : Blanc de Chine (P.J. Donnelly, Faber and Faber, 1969. ISBN 571-08078-2) plate 122 A. For a earlier blue and white porcelain model from the Ming dynasty (16th century) which the present example relates to, showing Guanyin standing on a dragons head see : Blue and White For China, Porcelain Treasures in the Percival David Collection (Stacey Pierson, University of London, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, Clifford Press 2004. ISBN 0-7286-0358-6) page 96, plate 40.
Two Kangxi Blanc de Chine Porcelain Models of the Virgin Mary and Child.
At the ACM Museum, Singapore.
The Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722) showed a degree of tolerance towards Christianity in his empire, largely due to the efforts of Jesuit missionaries who had arrived in China centuries earlier.
In 1692, he issued the Edict of Toleration, which recognized Catholicism, permitted the spread of Christianity, protected Christian missionaries & churches from persecution and the practice
of Christianity by the Chinese people. It's a miracle for the Emperor Kangxi to write a Poem of "I Z5 The Death of Christ" ;
Emperor Kangxi – The Death of Christ
功成十字血成溪 When the work of the cross is done, blood flowed like a river,
千丈恩流分自西 Grace from the west flowed a thousand yards deep,
身列四衙半夜路 On the midnight road he was subjected to four trials,
徒方三背兩番鸡 Before the rooster crowed twice, three times betrayed by a disciple.
五百鞭达寸肌裂 Five hundred lashes tore every inch of skin,
六尺悬垂二盜齐 Two thieves hung on either side, six feet high,
慘恸八垓惊九品 Sadness greater than any had ever known,
七言一毕万灵啼 Seven words, one completed task, ten thousand spirits weep.
The structure of the poem was in the total conformity with the ancient Chinese classical of 七 言 诗 (qi-yen-she) format, which means that every complete sentence consisted exactly seven words with rhymes. So the poem only has had 8 complete sentences with 56 Chinese characters, in total and with no punctuation.
With an unbroken history for 5000-year, the Chinese people have been exposed to many folk religions even longer before philosophies such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism that didn’t come into China till 5th/6th centuries. So it would need more than a miracle for the Emperor to tell the story of the Cross to the Chinese during his reign.
For A Closely Related Model of The Madonna and Child Dated to c.1690-1750.
From the collection of J.P. Donnelly
at
The British Museum :
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1980-0728-91
- Description : 'Dehua' figure of the Madonna and Child. The female figure is standing on the head of an animal or monster and is holding a small boy in her arms. One finger is highlighted with gold. She is modelled after figures of the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, 'Guanyin', who is typically depicted on a tiger holding a child. Both mother and child, however, have European features and curly hair, the woman also wears a non-Chinese headdress and the child holds a rosary, so that this sculpture is identified as the Christian Holy Mother, the Virgin Mary carrying the infant Christ, rather than a Buddhist mother goddess.
Clemens Merkelbach van Enkhuizen (1937-2023).
