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figure
Object Type
figure
Museum number
2018,3005.186
Description
Carved ivory figure of Wen Chang, the god of literature and writing, wearing a scholarly cap and robe, his hands covered by his long sleeves. Details of the deity's hair, eyes and cap were coloured in black. There are holes in his face for the insertation of real hair to form a beard, moustache and side whiskers. Later wooden stand.
Cultures/periods
Ming dynasty
Production date
16thC-17thC
Production place
Made in:
China
Materials
ivory
Technique
carved
Dimensions
Height:
15 centimetres
(with stand)
Height:
12.50 centimetres
Bibliographic references
Kerr, Allen & Shih 2016. / Chinese Ivory Carvings: The Sir Victor Sassoon Collection
(p.242)
Ferguson 2021 / Pots, Prints and Politics: Ceramics with an Agenda, from the 14th to the 20th Century
(Chapter 3, p.25, fig.25)
(Wenyuan Xin, 'Illlustrated Hagiographies and Figure Production in Late Ming Fujian', pp.22-30)
Location
Not on display
Subjects
daoism
Acquisition name
Donated by:
The Sir Victor Sassoon Chinese Ivories Trust
Acquisition date
2018
Department
Asia
Registration number
2018,3005.186
Additional IDs
Previous owner/ex-collection number:
158/889
(Sassoon number)