Chinese

Late Qing/ Early Republic

9.5x4.5x4.5 In.

A glazed ceramic figure of Guan Yu, the famed military general of the late Han dynasty, who became one of China’s most venerated deities. He wears a fierce expression, flowing black beard, and raised fist gripping a sword. Beneath his dynamic stance, a tiger crouches at his feet, reinforcing his role as a protector and subduer of threats. With a sword in hand, he adorns a gilded headset and a robe painted in rich browns, reds, and greens featuring delicate details. 

Worship of Guan Yu began locally after his death near Maicheng in Dangyang, Hubei, when he was feared, before Buddhist monasteries incorporated him into their pantheon during the Tang dynasty. By the Song and Yuan eras, shrines to him were widespread, and he came to be seen as a guardian of temples and communities. In Daoist tradition, especially in his native Xie Prefecture, he was celebrated for slaying dragons and controlling floods, securing imperial titles under Emperor Huizong.

Non-exportable

Provenance: The Estate of Mangaldas Nathubhai