CHONGZHEN 1628 – 1644 Blanc de Chine Porcelain
A Fine Ming Blanc de Chine Model of `Guandi God of War` on His Horse `Red Hare`, Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen Period 1628-1644. Guandi is Shown in His Armour Beneath his Robes with one Arm Outstretched and the Other Behind his Horse. They are Supported by a Pillar with Waves Issuing from the Base.
SOLD
- Condition
- Very good, minor losses including the end of one of 'Red Hare's' ears.
- Size
- Height : 12 cm (4 3/4 inches)
- Provenance
- N/A
- Stock number
- 242591
- References
- For a very similar but larger (21 cm) Ming Blanc de Chine Porcelain group see : Blanc de Chine (Introduction by John Ayers, S.Marchant & Son, 2006. ISBN 0-9554009-0-2) page 42, plate 21. For another Blanc de Chine figure of this type dated to the 17th Century see : Blanc de Chine, Divine Images in Porcelain (John Ayres, China Institute Gallery, New York, 2002) page 96, plate 47.
Information
Blanc de Chine Porcelain :
The porcelain known in the West as Blanc de Chine was produced 300 miles south of the main Chinese kiln complex of Jingdezhen. The term refers to the fine grain white porcelain made at the kilns situated near Dehua in the coastal province of Fujian, these kilns also produced other types of porcelain. A rather freely painted blue and white ware, porcelain with brightly coloured `Swatow` type enamels as well as pieces with a brown iron-rich glaze. However it is the white blanc de Chine wares that have made these kilns famous. The quality and colour achieved by the Dehua potters was partly due to the local porcelain stone, it was unusually pure and was used without kaolin being added. This, combined with a low iron content and other chemical factors within the body as well as the glaze, enabled the potters to produce superb ivory-white porcelain.
Guandi God of War :
Guan Yu, an important historical general and hero of the Three Kingdoms Period (221–280). Guan Yu is also known as `Guandi God of War`. He is described as having Gleaming skin, glistening lips, eyes like the crimson phoenix, brows like nestling silk worms. His horse was called Red Hare and could cover 1,000 `li` (540 km/330 miles) in a day. Guan Yu was Immortalised in the 14th Century Ming Novel by Luo Guanzhong San Guo Yan Yi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms).