17TH/18TH CENTURY

The figures at either side probably represent The Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. See P. J. Donnelly, Blanc de Chine, 1969, pp.194-198 for a discussion on religious groups with Christian influence, where the author explains that this group is particularly rare; compare in particular the related model, of similar size to the present lot, depicting Christ lying at the foot of his Mother and Mary Magdalene, pl.123B, which Donnelly claims is unique and which was originally in the A. W. Bahr collection.