188 - Guanyin. China, Qing Dynasty, ca.1900.

Guanyin. China, Qing Dynasty, ca.1900. In "China white" or Dehua porcelain. With signature and mark on the reverse. Measurements: 64 x 40 x 23 cm. Sculpture of Guanyin, bodhisattva of love and compassion, goddess of mercy and one of the most esteemed figures in Asian folklore. Guanyin is invoked in times of difficulty and is considered the protector of the sick and needy. She wears a sumptuous robe and her face radiates supreme serenity. She appears seated on a Fu Dog, which in turn sits on a lotus flower. The piece is of "China white" porcelain, an expression used in the West to refer to a Chinese porcelain with a very fine white covering, characteristic especially of the Ming and Ching periods. It is also called Dehua porcelain, as it is manufactured in Dehua in Fujian province. It has been produced from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) to the present day. Large quantities reached Europe as Chinese export porcelain in the early 18th century and was copied in Meissen and elsewhere. It was also exported to Japan in large quantities.