No connection to server
Part of Bonhams Network
Home Create account
Quality auctions online
Live auctions
Nordic DesignSellBuyNews
Contact
Svenska Suomi
Home  News
Part of Bonhams Network
    Create account
Switch to Swedish Switch to Finnish
AuctionsNordic DesignSellBuyContact
Quality auctions online
Art
Asian Ceramics & Works of Art
Books & Manuscripts
Carpets, rugs & textiles
Ceramics & porcelain
Collectibles
Design
Folk art
Furniture
Glassware
Jewellery
Lighting
Militaria
Miscellaneous
Silver
Timepieces
Vintage & Fashion
See all objects
Theme auctions online
Franco Costa F620
Franco Costa
Auction:
Decorate Your Summer House E1202
Decorate Your Summer House
Auction:
Summer Scarves E1228
Summer Scarves
Auction:
Lisa Larson E1210
Lisa Larson
Auction:
Barbie – A Collection, Part II E1223
Barbie – A Collection, Part II
Auction:
See all auctions
Live auctions
Contemporary Art & Design 666
Contemporary Art & Design
Important Timepieces 667
Important Timepieces
Modern Art & Design 668
Modern Art & Design
Important Winter Sale 669
Important Winter Sale
See all auctions
See all Bonhams Network auctions
Important Spring Sale 665870872
871
1628078

A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.

A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.
Estimate
50 000 - 60 000 SEK
4 610 - 5 530 EUR
5 260 - 6 320 USD
Hammer price
Unsold
Purchasing info
For condition report contact specialist
Cecilia Nordström
Stockholm
Cecilia Nordström
Senior specialist Asian Ceramics and Works of Art, European Ceramics and Glass
+46 (0)739 40 08 02
→ Sell with Bukowskis
 Pdf print out
A blanc de chine figure of Zhenwu, first half of 17th century.

The warlike figure is seated on a rocky throne with his left arm raised in a gesture of deterrence whilst a snake and the head of the tortoise project from the rocks below. He wears chest and thigh armour under his robe with a cap on his head, his characteristic long hair falls to his shoulders. Height 23.5 cm.

Restoration to hand and animal heads.

Provenance

Property of a private collector.
Purchased at Lawrence Auctioneers of Crewkerne, Somerset, 3 November 2005, lot no 624.

Exhibitions

Compare, an example of this model in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, credit line: Purchase by subscription, 1879. Object Number: 79.2.481.

Compare also one in the Virginia Museum of Fine Art.

Literature

John Ayers, Blanc de Chine, Divine Images in Porcelain, China Institute Gallery, New York, 2002, Item no 41. Page 90
Donnelly, 1969. Pl 101A.
Kerr and Ayers, 2002, No. 26.

More information

Zhenwu is sometimes reffered to as 'Perfect Warrior, Dark Lord of the Northern Quadrant'.

Legend has it that Zhengwu was successful in defeating the demon kings despite the intervention of a snake and tortoise (which normally appear when he is depicted). He was thus accorded the titels of both 'first Lord of the Highest Heaven' and 'Perfected Warrior'. He subsequently became one of the most popular Daoist deities in small-scale devotional sculpture. A temple to honour him was built at the norhernmost point of the Forbidden City.

His role as a guardian reflects his association with the north, the direction from which China was constantly threatened by neighboring peoples from Central Asia.