Grotto with Guanyin, attendants, and 18 arhats

Title
Grotto with Guanyin, attendants, and 18 arhats
Year/Period
Kangxi, ca. 1690
Region
Dehua kilns, Fujian province, China
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 21.9 x 19.4 x 13.0 cm
Accession No.
2015-00396

This sculpture depicts Guanyin in a large grotto, with her two attendants Longnu and Shancai Tongzi, and the 18 arhats (disciples of the Buddha). It is covered with the creamy white glaze distinctive to the Dehua kilns of Fujian province. Such grottos depict Mount Putuo, the legendary island home of the bodhisattva Guanyin, located off the coast of Zhejiang province.Known as “blanc de chine” in the West, Dehua white wares were exported all over the world during the Qing dynasty.