An impressive and large bronze seated figure of Wang Lingguan, Ming dynasty | 明 銅王靈官坐像

Wang Lingguan or Wang Tianjun 王天君 is a Daoist guardian in charge of protecting the Daoist temples. The deity is often depicted as a warrior with fierce demonic features and holding a rod weapon called bian 鞭 in Chinese. Compare a related Ming dynasty gilt-bronze Wang Lingguan of a similar size, formerly in the collection of Professor Oscar Bjork, sold at Christie's Paris, 6th November 2012, lot 106; and another at Christie's New York, 30th May 1991, lot 14. Related Ming dynasty bronze figures of this impressive size and casting quality are relatively rare. Compare a slightly larger gilt-bronze figure of a Daoist deity sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2006, lot 1158; and a bronze figure of Zhenwu sold in our London rooms, 26th July 1960, lot 104. See also a larger pair of standing Dvarapala gate guardians from the collection of Gordon Rollins, sold in these rooms, 18th-19th March 2014, lot 264; and another pair of massive bronze figures of Daoist officials from the William Boyce Thompson Collection, sold also in these rooms, 23rd September 2020, lot 648.