A RARE MASSIVE 'BLANC-DE-CHINE' FIGURE OF BUDDHA QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

modelled standing on a waisted lotus plinth, wearing long flowing robes draped from the shoulders and falling in undulous folds open at the chest, one hand held in front holding a 'pearl', the other held in varada mudra, his facial features finely formed to provide a serene expression with downcast eyes, a small sensuous mouth and flanked by long lobed ears, his hair with tightly curled whorls covering the domed ushnisha, all under a warm milky glaze, impressed to the reverse with three seals reading Dehua, Xu Yuyuan zhi ('Made by Xu Yuyuan'), and Xu Yunlin zhi ('Made by Xu Yunlin')

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5th November 1996, lot 832.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8th April 2007, lot 726.

Robert H. Blumenfield, Blanc de Chine. The Great Porcelain of Dehua, Berkeley, 2002, p. 57, pl. B.

-There is a small hairline crack to the front of the robe, approx 2.9 cm; small fine hairline cracks across the left foot, and a hairline crack from the right foot down approx 8 cm, and one across the base. -There are small chips to the edge of the hanging robe to the front, of which the tip is polished. -There are minor glaze cracks to the corners of the robe, and small areas of glaze crawls over the edges. -There are minor firing flaws around overall body, the largest to the reverse of the robe of approx 6 cm, and others from the plinth extending to the base. Otherwise the piece is generally in quite good condition overall.
"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."

Dehua figures of standing Buddha are rare and the present figure is unusual for its very large size. See two smaller figures of standing Buddha illustrated ibid., p. 56, pl. B and p. 57, pl. A , depicted with elaborate jewels. See also three figures included in the exhibition Blanc de Chine, S. Marchant and Son, London, 2006, cat. nos. 4, 8 and 25, all much smaller in size; and two smaller examples published in P.J. Donnelly, Blanc de Chine. The Porcelain of Tehua in Fukien, London, 1969, pls. 156 and 157, the latter depicted wearing jewels.