Wenchang
Artistafter
He Chaozong
(Chinese, active ca. 1610 - 1620)
Dateearly 17th Century
PeriodMing dynasty (1368–1644)
MediumDehua ware; porcelain with transparent glaze
DimensionsOVERALL: 15 × 6 11/16 × 5 1/4 in. (38.1 × 17 × 13.4 cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineGift of Ira and Nancy Koger, 2001
Object numberSN11122.83
Wearing the garb and cap of a scholar official, the god of literature Wenchang sits on a rocky pedestal holding a <i>ruyi</i>, a scepter for granting wishes. His robe drapes in naturalistic folds over his arms and legs, and his eyes and hands are rendered in minute detail. Small slots in his chin and upper lip allow for the addition of a beard and moustache, which could have been fashioned from horse hair. The back of this figure bears the square seal of famed Dehua figure modeler He Chaozong.
On View
On viewLocation
- Center for Asian Art, 3rd floor, Lobby, Case B
early 17th century
late 18th-19th century
17th century
early 18th century
17th-18th century
17th century