Laughing Buddha (Budai) in Chinese porcelain with polychrome famille rose decoration - Porcelain - Zhu Mao Ji Zao - China - Republic period (1912-1949)

Famille Rose polychrome enamelled porcelain depicting Budai (known as the Laughing Buddha) or the Immortal Liu Hai. The figure is shown seated in a relaxed pose. He wears a broad, jovial smile, his lips reddened and teeth showing. His earlobes are traditionally elongated. His rounded belly and torso are left bare, revealing nipples marked with red enamel dots and a sunken navel.
With his right hand resting on his knee, he fingers a long Buddhist prayer-bead rosary (mala) composed of brown and green beads and an orange pendant. His left hand rests on his anthropomorphic, bulging bag of tricks, enamelled in a vivid yellow-orange tone.
He wears a richly decorated, loose robe, the rear section of which, with a saffron-yellow ground, is entirely covered with a dense network of engraved, stylized scrollwork (wanwen). This drapery is sumptuously adorned with blooming lotus flowers and peonies in shades of blue, pink and green, alternating with several circular longevity medallions (shou) painted in iron red. The edges of the sleeves and collar feature blue trim decorated with a scattering of small white flowers with pink centers.
The flat base, left in white biscuit, has a circular firing hole and bears an impressed oval seal with four characters: « 朱茂記造 » (Zhu Mao Ji Zao), indicating the workshop of the celebrated porcelain sculptor Zhu Maoji, active in Jingdezhen in the first half of the 20th century.
Private collection
• Dimensions (approx.): Height: 22 cm; Width: 25 cm.
• Weight: 2.2 kg.
• Condition: Enamels in good, fresh condition, with normal wear from use