Attributed to He Chaozong (attributed), Figure of Guanyin, Dehua porcelain (Blanc de Chine), ivory-white glaze, Ming dynasty, c. 1580–1650, H. 47.6 cm, Victoria and Albert Museum, C.546-1910, Blanc de Chine
Front view
Image: Victoria and Albert Museum, London · Open Access
Primary Source
Victoria and Albert Museum — Collection Database ↗
Attributed to He Chaozong约1522–1600

Figure of Guanyin

何朝宗（传）, 观音立像
Ming dynasty, c. 1580–1650
C.546-1910VerifiedVictoria and Albert Museum, London
Object Details
Medium
Dehua porcelain (Blanc de Chine), ivory-white glaze
Dimensions
H. 47.6 cm
Date
Ming dynasty, c. 1580–1650
Classification
佛教造像
Dynasty
明, 明晚期
Technique
模印、雕刻、施釉
Glaze
象牙白
Inscription
Seal mark "He Chao zong yin" in relief on reverse, four archaic-script characters
背款"何朝宗印"四字篆书阳文
Accession
C.546-1910
Repository
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
维多利亚和阿尔伯特博物馆
Research Context

The best-preserved example among He Chaozong's extant Guanyin figures. The ivory-white glaze has Fe₂O₃ below 0.35% and K₂O at 6.8%, typical of late Ming Dehua formulations. A key object for understanding the technical and artistic zenith of 17th-century Dehua porcelain sculpture. George Salting bequest (1910) — Salting was one of the most important collectors of Asian art in Victorian London, and his bequest forms a cornerstone of the V&A's Asian ceramics collection.

Linked Research Dimensions
02He Chaozong Corpus04European Imitation Chain05Materials Science
Provenance
c. 1610–1640
Created at Dehua kilns, Fujian province, China
创作于福建德化窑
17th–19th century
Entered Europe via trade routes
经贸易路线传入欧洲
?–1910
George Salting (1835–1909) collection, London
George Salting (1835–1909) 收藏
1910
Bequeathed by George Salting to the Victoria and Albert Museum
George Salting 遗赠维多利亚和阿尔伯特博物馆
Literature
  1. Donnelly, P. J., Blanc de Chine: The Porcelain of Têhua in Fukien, London: Faber & Faber, 1969
    唐纳利，《中国白：福建德化瓷器》，伦敦：Faber & Faber，1969年
    p. 234, pl. 47
  2. Ayers, J. & Kerr, R., Blanc de Chine: Divine Images in Porcelain, New York: China Institute Gallery, 2002
    艾尔斯与柯玫瑰，《中国白：神圣与世俗的瓷塑》，纽约：China Institute Gallery，2002年
    cat. 23
  3. Kerr, R. & Wood, N., Science and Civilisation in China, vol. 5 pt. 12: Ceramic Technology, Cambridge University Press, 2004
    柯玫瑰与伍德，《中国陶瓷科学与文明》，2004年
    pp. 358–362
何朝宗观音Salting遗赠DonnellyOpen Access

Cite This Page

World Headlines. "Figure of Guanyin (C.546-1910)." In Blanc de Chine Catalog (WH-GR-2026-001). https://blancdechine.org/objects/va-c546-1910. Accessed April 12, 2026.
Permanent Linkhttps://blancdechine.org/objects/va-c546-1910