Model of a tree with figures

Title
Model of a tree with figures
Year/Period
19th century
Region
Dehua kilns, Fujian province, China
Dimension
Object size: 54.0 x 25.0 x 24.0 cm
Accession No.
2019-00535
Credit Line
Gift of Dorothy Chan in honour of her godmother Mrs Pamela Hickley

This figural group which comprises a prunus tree, large rock, and two ladies highlights the skill of Dehua potters at creating sculptural works. The tree's gnarly trunk and roots, twisting branches and flowers in varied sizes and phases of bloom, coupled with the lively and detailed rendering of the two ladies beneath it, imbue this piece with dynamism. Prunus or plum blossom trees were among the sculptural pieces created by Dehua potters during the 18th and 19th centuries, and appears to have been made for the European market. These trees varied in size and the details included, this example appears to be among some of the largest and most complex created.