Lot Essay
In an article by John Larson and Rose Kerr, "A Hero Restored: the Conservation of Guan Di", Orientations, July 1991, dealing with the restoration of a massive lacquered and gilt-wood figure of Guandi in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the popularity of Guandi during the Ming Dynasty is discussed, as well as his various guises: i.e. either dressed in full armour or with a scholar's robes worn over his armour. Compare the similar figure from the collection of H. Tozer, exhibited in The Arts of the Ming Dynasty, T.O.C.S., 1955-57, vol.30, no.294, pl.79