Antique/Vintage Porcelain Taoist Immortal Lu Dongbin, Chinese Republic (17034GRK) $295

Description

This Chinese-Republic porcelain is the Taoist-Deity Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, holding his identifying symbol, a fly whisk. Fly whisks were used by Buddhists and Taoists to deflect insects without hurting them which was viewed as a way to allay ones problems and difficulties. Fly whisk (yun chou) means cloud sweeper, which describes Lu Dongbin’s magical whisk he uses to fly to and walk on clouds and oceans. Although many porcelain figures during this period were made for export, Taoist Immortals images  were made for the domestic market. The Eight-Immortals (baxien) are legendary Taoists-Deities each of whom achieved immortality. Popularized in novels, folklore, dramas, woodblock prints and decorative and ceramic art, they exemplify Chinese society: male and female, civil and military, young and old and rich and poor. They are worshipped as gods and symbols of and are auspicious objects they carry or display in their homes.  Among the most popular subjects in China, they are portrayed singly, in pairs or as a group and are folk heroes with vast powers that are often used in feng shui. Each has a personality with foibles and carries a unique object giving them auspicious powers. After the Qing dynasty was replaced by the Chinese Republic (1912-1949), porcelain production declined in imperial kilns but was revived in Southern China’s Jiangxi Province which made high-quality finely designed porcelains in private kilns. With few restraints, they produced more colorful pieces with unique Western shapes and styles. Republic Period porcelains are now recognized for their high quality, clear white finishes, striking glazes and unique designs and have become highly collectible. This figurine is part of the VA collections of Ceramics-and-Pottery and Deities-and-Legends.

Sources:

Terese Tse Bartholomew, Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, San Francisco, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 2006.

“Collector’s Guide to Republic and 20^TH Century Chinese Porcelain,

Carolyn Ann Greene, Politics and Patronage: A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920, Dissertation, Phoenix, Arizona State University, 2019.