A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF GUANDI

MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

Details

A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF GUANDI
MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY
The god of War is shown seated on a stepped base, with both hands resting on his knees, wearing robes with billowing sleeves beneath thick, elaborate armor detailed with dragon-form epaulets and incised leafy scrolls at the hem. His face has a fierce expression beneath the cloth cap tied with a ribbon.
6¾ in. (17.2 cm.) high

Provenance

Private collection, Canada, by repute acquired in London in the 1930s-50s.

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Nick Wilson

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Lot Essay

Guandi, also known as Guan Yu, was the renowned third century general of the state of Shu, and was popularized by the fourteenth century historical novel Sanguo Yan Yi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms). Reputed to have been killed along with his adopted son Guanping and his trusted general Zhoucang in Jingzhou by the army of Sunquan, ruler of the state of Wu, Guandi became deified by the Sui dynasty. While his actions are reputed to be overly exaggerated in later accounts of his life, Guandi remains one of the most popular Chinese historical figures, and to this day is worshipped by Daoist and Buddhist practitioners as a guardian deity.

Compare the gilt-bronze figure of Guandi of larger size (34.8 cm.), sold at Christie's New York, 24 March 2004, lot 84.

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