New photography by Shannon Ruff captured with a digital camera-2006.

Sculpture of a Bodhisattva Guanyin Seated on a High Pedestal Holding a Baby

Artist Unknown

CultureChinese | Qing Dynasty

Date1662-1772

MediumPorcelain | Enamel | Enamels on biscuit porcelain, base painted by overglaze polychrome enamels

DimensionsOverall: 6 3/4 x 16 in. (17.1 x 40.6 cm)

Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.

Object number71.157

Not on view

DescriptionSeated figure of Guanyin, holding a small crudely shaped child on her lap, and seated on a lotus throne. She looks down, her arms are resting on lap but hands held gracefully up. Wears high chignon with scarf draped over and flowing shoulders. Colored in famille jaune enamels; scarf yellow with aubergine and green flowers, robe design in overlapping petals of famille verte enamels with varying diaper patterns. Small ceramic beads surround neckline of robe. Face, neck, hands, and hair white with glaze appearing light blue where pooled in crevices. Child white bisque. Bottom has imprint of cloth. Two chips off front bottom edge of figure; child's head a replacement. Lotus throne is hexagonal and painted in famille verte enamels on biscuit. Front panel contains central quatrefoil with lion against an inconsistent diaper ground. Adjacent two panels on each side have double circle perforations against floral and green ground. Central rear panel has arched perforation framed by bamboo stalks in black. Adjacent two panels have a yellow and an aubergine floral sprig on white ground. A pedestal rises from the top with perforated fence before it. Lotus leaves are attached to top of pedestal, rising above it as a stop for a statue. Entire pedestal hollow. Bottom flat, unglazed.

Published ReferencesSee similar seated figure enamel on biscuit famille verte in: De Boulay, A., _La Porcelaine Chinoise_, p. 78, fig. 73; Similar set (pedestal and figure) in Park Bernet Catalog, Whitridge, Nov. 16, 1939, #586 (called early Kang Xi); Similar set and figure in Eumorfopoulos Collection (Hobson) (See info. file); Similar set in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Kang Xi provenance: Ching Chien?", Lot #922, Sale 3798, AAG Dec. 4-7, 1929.