One of the Top 10 Treasures of Guangdong Museum, the “Arhat with Books” is one of the fine example of Blanc de Chine from Dehua Kiln.
Dehua Ware “Arhat with Books” with Zhang Shoushan Seal 德化窑“张寿山”款负书罗汉像
Dehua ware | Zhang Shoushan, Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) | Guangdong Museum 德化瓷器｜张寿山，明（公元1368年—1644年）｜广东省博物馆
‘Blanc de Chine’, or ‘white from China’, is the name given to white porcelains made in Dehua, a town in Fujian province along China’s southeast coast. Historically, Dehua potters created a wide range of white porcelains that were sought after around the world. Among those were works by master potters like He Chaozong 何朝宗, Zhang Shoushan 张寿山, Lin Xizong 林希宗 and Chen Wei 陈伟. They abandoned colour decorations, pursuing the beauty of the form and the natural body glaze. The porcelain glistens like jade, feels warm like jade, exquisite and elegant.
The Arhat was an exquisite example of Zhang Shoushan’s work. The fold and creases on the Arhat’s gown, the muscle and dimples on the Arhat’s face, the strength and tension of the over-the-shoulder bundle of books. It was as if the statue was alive.
Quanzhou being an early Maritime port in since Southern Song, religions flourished when the government of the day allow them to. This brought on a demand for religious wares and images of the deities and gods. Dehua kiln in Quanzhou was a benefactor of this boom in religious fervour.
Dehua Kiln and the Artisans
Archaeological evidence shows that Dehua was producing ceramics as early as the 10th century. In the Southern Song dynasty (1127 – 1279), Dehua qingbai wares (porcelain with a bluish white glaze) started to enter overseas markets. Most of the Dehua potters use their skills as a means to make a living. The skills and creativity process have been passed down from generation to generation, and many famous master potters and masterpieces have emerged.
He Chaozong 何朝宗 was a celebrated early 17th-century Chinese potter. He fashioned mainly Buddhist white porcelain statuary in the tradition of the Dehua kilns in Fujian Province, known in the west as Blanc-de-Chine. Here you can see this gourd shaped seal and regular seal in small seal script 小篆.
Ming Guanyin Sitting on Rock with Scripture 明 坐岩持经书观音像
Made by He Chaozong 何朝宗款
Called the Saint of Porcelain 瓷圣, He Chaozong 何朝宗‘s artistic accomplishment can be seen in his pottery. He was apt in sculpting and carving of different style, combing them to form a new style. He-style became a mainstream style that was copied by generations. His works are sought after by collectors, often fetching high prices in auctions.
Ming Guanyin Sitting on Rock 明 坐岩观音像
Made and sealed by Zhang Shoushan 张寿山印款
Zhang Shoushan 张寿山 was a master potter from late Ming dynasty in Dehua kiln, learning his skills from He Chaozong 何朝宗.
His works were sold to Europe in the 17th century, and highly sought after for the artistry and quality. His works are very rare, with a piece in the British Museum, and mostly in private collections . The Arhat in Guangdong Museum was one of two still known in existence; the other is with a Hong Kong private collector.
Ming Guanyin in White Glaze明 德化窑白釉观音
Made and sealed by Chen Wei 陈伟款
Late Ming Guanyin Seated in White Glaze 明晚期 德化窑白瓷观音坐像
Made by Lin Xizong 林希宗制
Ming dynasty Dehua master potters represented by He Chaozong 何朝宗, Zhang Shoushan 张寿山, Lin Xizong 林希宗 and Chen Wei 陈伟, draw creative inspiration from folk art and religion. With religious themes as creative inspiration, they have created a large number of lifelike immortal Buddha statues such as Shakyamuni, Guanyin, Arhats, Dharma, etc., pushing the art of Dehua porcelain to an unprecedented peak.
About Chinese National Treasure Series
中華國寶系列 Chinese National Treasure series feature specific artefacts and relics from museums all around the world that are historically significant to be considered a National Treasure. The series covers the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation from Neolithic periods before the Xia dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) to modern day.
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