明晚期 約1620年 德化白釉觀音立像

the figure modeled standing on a vase brimming with lotus on a bank of swirling waves, wearing long robes that cover the hands, open at the chest to reveal a ruyi-bead necklace, extending to a cowl and falling gracefully to expose one bare foot, the head turned slightly to the left and hair arranged beneath the cowl and fastened with a lotus diadem, the back impressed with a three-character seal mark of He Chaozong within a double gourd

荷蘭Captain J. Meuldijk收藏

There are hairline cracks on the rear of the figure's head extending down the back for approximately 11 cm, a horizontal crack at the base of the cowl approximately 6 cm long with associated crackle in the glaze, one on the right side of the hairline extending down into the chest, one extending from the hair across the forehead to the nose, and a short hairline crack at the edge of the cowl in the front. There are scattered repairs along the edge of the sleeves and to the right edge of the cowl resting on the shoulder. There are also repairs to the big toe and to the top of the lotus petal resting on the waves. There are scattered iron spots and dimpling, most noticeable on the figure's back, along with some minor glaze lines. There are chips around the base and some firing cracks in the interior.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

He Chaozong, the Dehua kilns' most famous potter and greatest figure sculptor, lived and worked in the late Ming period, around the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His figures are characterized by remarkable sculptural quality, with most delicate facial features and bold garment folds. He is mainly known through his extant work, which often bears his seals, but very little is recorded about the man himself. His works defined the characteristic Dehua style, and his images, which have provided models for porcelain sculpture until today, established a standard that has never since been reached again.

See a similar Guanyin with a small boy standing by her side, illustrated in P.J. Donnelly, Blanc de Chine. The Porcelain of Tehua in Fukien, London, 1969, pl. 145C. See another closely related Guanyin from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, sold in these rooms, 19th-20th March 2007, lot 777.