Lady. China, Qing dynasty, 19th century.

Lady. China, Qing dynasty, 19th century.
Porcelain Blanc de chine.
Measurements: 30,5 x 9,5 x 9 cm.
Round sculpture framed within the style called in Europe Blanc de Chine. These pieces, made in Dehua, in the province of Fujian, have their origin in times of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). They are characterized by their warm white color, achieved thanks to the use of a porcelain very low in iron oxide, which allows firing in an oxidizing atmosphere, instead of the reducing atmospheres typical of the rest of Chinese porcelain. Particularly representative are the images of the bodhisattva Guanyin, highly revered in Fujian.
Under the Qing, inherited art forms flourished and innovations occurred at many levels and in many types. High levels of literacy, a successful publishing industry, thriving cities, and Confucian emphasis on cultivation nurtured a lively and creative set of cultural fields. By the late 19th century, the national artistic and cultural worlds had begun to reconcile with the cosmopolitan culture of the West and Japan. The decision to remain within the old forms or to welcome Western models was now a conscious choice rather than an unquestioning acceptance of tradition. Classically trained Confucian scholars. The Qing emperors were generally skilled in poetry and often skilled in painting, and they offered their patronage to Confucian culture.