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Lot Essay
The figure is inscribed on the reverse at the bottom with characters reading Da Ming Chongzhen shi nian Shanxi, Wang Youxian, Pingyang fu ren cheng zao, ‘respectfully made by Wang Youxian of Pingyang County, Shanxi in the tenth year of Chongzhen period of the great Ming’ corresponding to 1637.
The figure is shown seated, holding a hu tablet, and dressed in official regalia including a black circular hat, a long robe finely embroidered with incised five-clawed dragons along the hem, and upturned-toed shoes.
The present figure most likely represents Tianguan (the Heaven Official), one of the Three High Officials in Daoist tradition. Charged with bestowing upon mortals their allotted measure of good fortune and happiness, Tianguan is occasionally conflated with Fuxing, the stellar deity of happiness. In ritual contexts, such a figure would typically be accompanied by the other two High Official- Diguan (Earth Official) and Shuiguan (Water Official) as part of a triad venerated in Daoist worship.
For a closely related example, see to a similar yet slightly larger (75 cm. high) gilt-bronze figure of Tianguan, sold at Christie’s New York, 20 March 2014, lot 1627 (fig. 1).
The figure is shown seated, holding a hu tablet, and dressed in official regalia including a black circular hat, a long robe finely embroidered with incised five-clawed dragons along the hem, and upturned-toed shoes.
The present figure most likely represents Tianguan (the Heaven Official), one of the Three High Officials in Daoist tradition. Charged with bestowing upon mortals their allotted measure of good fortune and happiness, Tianguan is occasionally conflated with Fuxing, the stellar deity of happiness. In ritual contexts, such a figure would typically be accompanied by the other two High Official- Diguan (Earth Official) and Shuiguan (Water Official) as part of a triad venerated in Daoist worship.
For a closely related example, see to a similar yet slightly larger (75 cm. high) gilt-bronze figure of Tianguan, sold at Christie’s New York, 20 March 2014, lot 1627 (fig. 1).