A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE 'LONGQUAN' CELADON GUANYIN SHRINE MING DYNASTY, 15TH CENTURY

the Goddess finely modelled seated in 'royal ease' within a rocky alcove on a tiered rockwork throne, wearing a flowing robe and elaborate beaded jewellery, her face with gentle smile beneath a high tiara, all framed within an arch applied with a freely modelled bird and the 'Vase of Immortality' perched on ledges amidst scrolling leafy vines and lotus, at the base stand two acolytes on rocky ledges above foaming waves, covered overall in a rich bluish-green glaze save for the faces, hands and some vessels which are reserved in the reddish-brown biscuit

Collection of Charles Russell.

Sotheby's London, 12th July 1960, lot 123.

 

Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 167.

 

 

The shrine is in good overall condition with the exception of several chips and minor restorations to the extermities, including but not limited to: loss to the top and polishing to the tips of each of the five points to the top back of the arch, loss to the central point of the top front arch, a 3.5cm., chip to the lower right side of the arch, a similar 2.5cm., chip to the upper right side of the arch, small chips to the extremities of leaves and foliage around the arch, loss to the lower left side of the arch, loss to the tip of the tail of the bird, loss to a circa 4x4cm., section of Guanyin's robe, loss to the majority of the circular mandorla, loss to ribbons at the left side of her head and hairline cracks/breaks to the ribbons at the right, overpainting to the neck and face of Guanyin (possible break to neck), overpainting and restoration to the biscuit vessels and faces of the acolytes, restoration to the acolytes head-dress, a circa 2.5cm., long firing crack to the base, crazing and firing lines to the side of the lower edge of the base, an overall light crackle to the glaze, small chips and flakes to the edge of the base.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

It is extremely rare to find a 'Longquan' celadon shrine of this impressive size, and the present piece is exceptional for its extensive delicately modelled details, which demonstrate the skill of the Longquan potters in the production of devotional figures for the home market. The goddess is shown as Guanyin of the South Sea, who, according to legend, was a virtuous young woman martyred and consequently transformed into a manifestation of Avalokitesvara for her piety. Flanked by her two acolytes, Longnu and Shancai, the waves represent her home in the South Sea, while the beggar's bowls symbolise her role as the Goddess of Mercy. In the tradition of celadon figures, the face and hands have been left unglazed to allow for the application of pigment or gilding.

Compare a slightly smaller two-tiered shrine illustrated in Julian Thompson, 'Chinese Celadons', Arts of Asia, November-December, 1993, front cover, and sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 5^th November 1996, lot 615; and a similar example in the Charles Russell collection illustrated by R. L. Hobson et. al., Chinese Ceramics in Private Collections, London, 1931, p. 187. A larger shrine from the Edward T. Chow collection, engraved with a date equivalent to 1385, is illustrated in Sheila Riddell, Dated Chinese Antiquities, 600-1650, London, 1979, pl. 11, and was sold in these rooms, 16^th December 1980, lot 324, and again, 16^th June 1998, lot 232.

'Longquan' celadon shrines of this type are generally much smaller, for example see one from the Evelyn Annenberg Hall collection sold at Christie's New York, 29^th March 2006; another from the estate of Stanley Hertzman sold at Christie's New York, 20^th September 2002, lot 308; and a third from the collection of J. C. Dragon II sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 5^th November 1996, lot 615.