A famille verte biscuit water-dropper in the shape of Liu Hai. Kangxi
The smiling figure is modelled wearing a sleeveless garment and trousers, he holds a coin in his left hand and his raised right hand raised holding a lotus. He is seated on a large three-legged toad decorated in green enamels and eyes picked out in black.
- Country:
- China
- Period :
- Kangxi (1662-1722)
- Material:
- Porcelain (biscuit)
- Dimension:
- (5.90 in. 15 cm)
- Reference :
- D453
- Status:
- sold
Related works
Two identical examples are illustrated by John Ayers in The Chinese Porcelain collection of Marie Vergottis, Lausanne, 2004, p. 98-99, no. 85 and 86.
For a pair of figures, see Christie’s NYC, The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection: Chinese and Japanese Works of Art and Textiles, 24 october 2022, lot 988.
Notice
Liu Haichan was a Taoist xian (immortal) who was a patriarch of the Quanzhen School, and a master of neidan “internal alchemy” techniques. He learned the secret of immortality from the Chan Chu (“Three-legged Money Toad”) and is a popular Chinese god of wealth
Traditional Chinese and Japanese art frequently represents Liu with a string of square-holed cash coins and a mythical three-legged chanchu (蟾蜍; “toad; toad in the moon”).
Photography : Jérémie Beylard /Agence PHAR
