A RARE SANCAI-GLAZED STONEWARE FIGURE OF GUANYIN, YUAN TO EARLY MING DYNASTY, 14TH-15TH CENTURY

A RARE SANCAI-GLAZED STONEWARE FIGURE OF GUANYIN, YUAN TO EARLY MING DYNASTY, 14TH-15TH CENTURY

Scientific Analysis Report: A thermoluminescence analysis report issued by Oxford Authentication Ltd on 27 August 2026, based on sample no. P126m3, confirms that Sample A, taken from the back of the left chair arm, was last fired between 550 and 800 years ago, consistent with the dating above. Sample B, taken from the base, was last fired less than 150 years ago, indicating that the base is an addition dating to the late 19th century. The samples were taken by Helen Mason of Oxford Authentication Ltd on 13 August 2026. A copy of the report accompanies this lot.

Expert's note
The remarkable gilt-lacquered elements applied to the shoulders and hands are entirely consistent with seventeenth- and eighteenth-century sculptural practice, yet are almost unheard of on pottery figures from the early Ming period. Their considerable wear suggests that they may represent an early embellishment, probably undertaken no later than the eighteenth century—an intervention that would presumably have been reserved for an image held in particular esteem. It remains equally possible, however, that the gilt lacquer is original to the sculpture. Such decoration, though exceedingly rare on pottery, is documented during the Ming dynasty, notably on a similarly gilt-lacquered, albeit unglazed, pottery figure of Guanyin sold at Christie's in 2016 (see auction comparison below).

China. Finely modeled and covered in a striking interplay of emerald-green, amber-yellow, and aubergine-brown glazes, depicted seated in dhyanasana on a rectangular base, with the hands joined in dhyana mudra upon the lap and distinctively lacquered in gilt and red. The deity is dressed in loose-fitting robes secured at the waist with a sash, the shoulders draped with a flowing shawl, likewise lacquered, which falls open to reveal the chest adorned with beaded jewelry.

The gently modeled face bears a serene expression, characterized by heavy-lidded eyes, a broad nose, and full lips forming a restrained smile, framed by long, pendulous earlobes and surmounted by a foliate tiara centered with a seated figure of Amitabha. At shoulder height, Guanyin is flanked by a small ewer and a bird.

Provenance: French trade. By repute from a private collection in Paris.
Condition: Expected wear, firing irregularities, cracks, old repairs and touchups, with associated rubbing, losses, and few small chips. The base plate is an addition from the late 19th century.

Weight: 3.9 kg
Dimensions: Height 31.3 cm

Did you know?
The present figure and others like it were probably inspired by the famous Yixian glazed pottery Luohans, which were subsequently rediscovered before World War I in caves at Yizhou and described as one of the most important groups of ceramic sculpture in the world. See, for example, two figures in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object numbers 21.76 and 20.114.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 27 May 2021, lot 364
Price: HKD 252,000 or approx. EUR 30,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A sancai tilework figure of a Buddha Ming dynasty, 16th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and glazes. Note the base and the size (45.3 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's Paris, 16 October 2013, lot 119
Price: EUR 61,500 or approx. EUR 82,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pottery figure of Guanyin, China, Ming dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related subject, modeling, gilt-lacquering, and size (30.5 cm).