A biscuit glazed famille verte figure of Guandi

Chinese Kangxi Period ( 1662-1722))

A biscuit glazed famille verte figure of Guandi, China, 17th century. The deity is depicted seated in an armchair, his left hand resting on his knee while his right hand is raised to hold his long beard. He wears spiked armour beneath a long robe, glazed in green, which falls over one shoulder. Two belts encircle the waist, one embellished with an animal mask. The headdress is surmounted by a pair of dragons flanking the sacred pearl.

The throne, face, beard and hands are left in the biscuit, as is the upper band across the chest of the garment, while the remaining surfaces are glazed over the biscuit in pale green, aubergine and yellow

This figure represents the god Guandi, typically shown in military dress and distinguished by his long beard. Originally known as Guan Yu, he was celebrated for his loyalty and martial prowess in assisting Liu Bei, who later became emperor of Western China, and was subsequently honoured with the name Guangong.

In later centuries he was deified and came to be revered as a patron of merchants and a god of war, as well as a symbol of justice and righteousness. Guandi appears frequently in Chinese art, including sculpture in metal, wood and ceramics, as well as in painting, and is a central figure in theatrical representations of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.