Various Owners






A blanc-de-Chine figure of Wenchang and acolyte


17th century The God of Literature finely modelled seated on a rocky outcrop wearing a scholar's cap, the serene face with indentations for a moustache and beard, the left hand hidden within the long-sleeved robe and the other holding a scroll, accompanied by a small bearded acolyte 24cm (9 1/2in) high
|Wenchang, the God of Literature, has been variously associated with figures from the Jin, Tang and Song Dynasties. He was believed to be the bearer of good luck for ill-prepared examination candidates and often holds as in the present example a scroll containing the results of the examinations. The God is variously modelled on his own or with Zhuyi, the distributor of examination results, Guixing, a demon-like figure and often is depicted with two attendants, Tianlong and Diya, one of which is probably modelled in the present lot.Compare similar blanc-de-Chine figures of Wenchang, illustrated by P.J.Donnelly, Blanc De Chine: The Porcelain of Têhua in Fukien, New York, 1967, pls.96 A and B (Wenchang with Guixing); R.Kerr and J.Ayers, Blanc De Chine: Porcelain from Dehua, Chicago, 2002, pl.28 (Wenchang and Zhuyi); and R.H.Blumenfield, Blanc De Chine: The Great Porcelain of Dehua, Berkeley, 2002, p.105 pl.C (Wenchang).