KANGXI 1662 – 1722 Blanc de Chine Porcelain
A Blanc de Chine Porcelain Model of a Man, Sometimes Referred to as `Adam`, Dehua Kilns, Fujian Province, Kangxi Period c.1690-1710. The Chinese Man with His Neatly Divided and Tied Hair Stands on a Simple Oval Rusticated Mound with Nothing More than a Cloth Around his Waist Which he Appears to be Holding Onto.
SOLD
- Condition
- Condition: In excellent condition, one minute shallow chip to the back of two of the fingers c.2 x 1mm. Firing cracks.
- Size
- Height : 21.5 cm (8 1/2 inches)
- Provenance
- N/A
- Stock number
- 22854
Photos
Information
Blanc de Chine Adam and Eve Figures :
A group of Blanc de chine porcelain models of of standing semi-naked figures on oval rusticated bases have traditionally been referred to as Adam and Eve. This is possibly because their clothing is so scant and simple they can be seen as having a passing resemblance to images of Adam and Eve in Western art. But as David Freedman points out in S.Marchant & Son`s 1985 catalogue of an exhibition of blanc de chine ".. there is no doubt that the face and hair-style are Chinese and there is nothing to suggest a European model". European models were used as prototypes for blanc de chine figures but they always have something to betray their Western origin, indeed that was the point, as they were made for the West. It is more likely these figures depict an indigenous or foreign ethnic group in China. Although appearing to be made as a pair it is curious that there are more male figures than female one in existence. The variation among these figures is minimal, the method of production is also very similar, that and the fact they are uncommon all point to a short production period. They were produced at Dehua in Fujian province during the reign of Kangxi, somewhere between c.1690 and 1710. References :
For a Kangxi Blanc de Chine figure like this dated to c.1690 see : Exhibition of Blanc de Chine (S.Marchant & Son, Exhibition Catalogue December 1985) page 30, plate 53.
For a pair of Blanc de Chine porcelain figures, one of which is the same as the present example see : Exhibition of Blanc de Chine (S.Marchant & Son, Exhibition catalogue June 1994) page 30, plate 20.
A Pair male and female Blanc de Chine figures, described as "Adam and Eve" are illustrated in : Blanc de Chine (P.J. Donnelly, Faber and Faber, 1969 (ISBN 571-08078-2) plate 121c.
For a pair of male and female blanc de chine porcelain figures from this group see : Blanc de Chine, Divine Images in Porcelain (John Ayres, China Institute Gallery, New York, 2002) page 104, plate 55.