With mark of He Chaozong (attributed), Seated Figure of Guandi (God of War), Dehua porcelain (Blanc de Chine), ivory-white glaze, Late Ming, c. 1600–1650, H. 38 cm, Victoria and Albert Museum, C.544-1910, Blanc de Chine
Figure of Guandi
Image: Victoria and Albert Museum, London · Open Access
Primary Source
Victoria and Albert Museum — Collection Database ↗
With mark of He Chaozong

Seated Figure of Guandi (God of War)

何朝宗款, 关帝坐像
Late Ming, c. 1600–1650
C.544-1910VerifiedVictoria and Albert Museum, London
Object Details
Medium
Dehua porcelain (Blanc de Chine), ivory-white glaze
Dimensions
H. 38 cm
Date
Late Ming, c. 1600–1650
Classification
道教造像
Dynasty
明, 明晚期
Technique
手塑、堆贴
Glaze
象牙白
Inscription
Mark of potter He Chaozong (per V&A 1991 gallery label)
何朝宗款（据V&A 1991年展签）
Accession
C.544-1910
Repository
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
维多利亚和阿尔伯特博物馆
Research Context

Per V&A API (system number O165249): Guandi (Guan Yu, ca. 161–220) seated, wearing a scholar's gown over full armour, with flowing long beard. Guan Yu received the title of emperor in 1594; worshipped as Daoist God of War and patron of honest merchants. This is the most extensively published Dehua piece in the V&A collection (9 scholarly references), bearing the mark of He Chaozong. Same George Salting bequest as C.546-1910 (Guanyin), adjacent accession numbers. Currently on display in V&A Room 44 (China), Case CA57. Includes elaborately carved wooden stand (flowers, rocks, ruyi symbols). 4 high-resolution images available.

Linked Research Dimensions
02He Chaozong Corpus01Historical Evolution04European Imitation Chain
Provenance
c. 1600–1650
Created at Dehua kilns, Fujian province
创作于福建德化窑
?–1910
George Salting (1835–1909) collection, London
George Salting (1835–1909) 收藏
1910
Bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum
遗赠维多利亚和阿尔伯特博物馆
Literature
  1. Bushell, Stephen, Chinese Art Volume II, V&A Art Handbook, 1906
    布什尔，《中国艺术 卷二》，V&A手册，1906年
    fig. 9
  2. Ayers, John, Far Eastern Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1980
    艾尔斯，《V&A远东陶瓷》，Sotheby Parke Bernet，1980年
    pl. 179
  3. Larson, John and Rose Kerr, "A Hero Restored — the Conservation of Guan Di," Orientations, July 1991
    拉森与柯玫瑰，《英雄的修复——关帝保护》，《Orientations》1991年7月
    p. 29
  4. Hobson, R.L., Wares of the Ming Dynasty, Benn Brothers Ltd., 1923
    霍布森，《明代瓷器》，Benn Brothers，1923年
    p. 176
  5. Hannover, Emil, Pottery and Porcelain: A Handbook for Collectors, vol. II, 1925
    汉诺威，《陶瓷手册 卷二》，1925年
    p. 99, fig. 147
  6. Honey, W.B., Guide to the Later Chinese Porcelain, London, 1927
    哈尼，《晚期中国瓷器导览》，1927年
    pp. 62, 90, pl. 107
关帝关羽Salting遗赠道教何朝宗Open Access

Cite This Page

World Headlines. "Seated Figure of Guandi (God of War) (C.544-1910)." In Blanc de Chine Catalog (WH-GR-2026-001). https://blancdechine.org/objects/va-c544-1910. Accessed April 12, 2026.
Permanent Linkhttps://blancdechine.org/objects/va-c544-1910