Ancient Chinese, Ming dynasty Celadon Guan Yu - 25 cm

Chinese Celadon Figure of Guan Yu – Ming Dynasty, 14th to 17th Century AD

A finely modelled Chinese celadon-glazed earthenware figure depicting the legendary general Guan Yu (Guandi), one of the most revered military heroes in Chinese history and later deified as the God of War, loyalty and righteousness. The figure is portrayed standing in a dignified frontal pose, dressed in layered military robes and armour beneath a flowing ceremonial cloak. His unmistakable facial features include the long beard and stern expression traditionally associated with Guan Yu, while he holds his characteristic weapon upright at his side. The face is left unglazed in buff pottery, creating an attractive contrast with the soft jade-green celadon glaze that covers the remainder of the sculpture.

Figures of Guan Yu became especially popular during the Ming Dynasty, when his cult flourished among military officials, merchants and scholars alike. He was venerated as a symbol of unwavering loyalty, justice, integrity and protection, and his images were commonly placed in temples, ancestral halls and wealthy households. The elegant crackled celadon glaze, together with the carefully modelled drapery and expressive facial treatment, reflects the refined ceramic production of the late Ming period.

The hollow interior and open base are entirely consistent with the firing techniques employed for large Ming ceramic sculptures. The sculpture retains an attractive, well-preserved celadon glaze with fine crazing and displays the balanced proportions and strong sculptural quality characteristic of devotional figures produced during this period.

Material: Celadon-glazed terracotta
Culture: Chinese, Ming Dynasty
Date: 14th to 17th Century AD
Dimensions: 25 cm

Provenance: Acquired in the Netherlands. From a Belgian private collection assembled during the 1990s.

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