Statue of Damo produced in Shiwan by Liu Zemian - A lustro (ceramic) - Liu Zemian - China - People's Republic of China (1949 - present)

Chinese glazed ceramic statue representing the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma (also known as Damo). The figure is easily recognizable by its pronounced facial features, severe and contemplative expression, shaved head, a mala (prayer beads) necklace around the neck, and the characteristic draped robe that envelops the entire body. This is a typical production in the Shiwan ceramics style. This kind of statuette combines porcelain or unglazed clay flesh tones with garments covered by thick colored enamels, in this case a deep, vibrant blue. The raised mark impressed in ancient characters inside the rectangle reads “劉澤棉” (Liu Zemian).

Liu Zemian (born 1937) is one of the most celebrated and respected Chinese ceramic masters, awarded the prestigious official title of "National Grand Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts". He is a fourth-generation descendant of the historic pottery family “Liu Sheng Ji,” and is regarded as a living legend of Shiwan artistic ceramics. His original works, including iconic portraits of Bodhidharma (Damo), are housed in the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) and have been donated in the past even to heads of state. Master Liu Zemian has worked for decades at the Shiwan Artistic Ceramics Factory. The most successful designs he carved were replicated in multiples by factory artisans using molds based on his prototype and marked with his seal for export. This statuette falls within the refined authorized atelier production of the Shiwan Factory (dating roughly to the 1980s).

The plastic quality of the face, the dramatic expressiveness of the gaze, and the structural rendering of the folds of the garment faithfully reflect the style for which Liu Zemian is famous, characterized by a deep study of anatomy and a strong visual impact.