A LARGE DEHUA FIGURE OF BUDDHA, QING DYNASTY, LATE 18TH - EARLY 19TH CENTURYChina. Seated in dhyanasana atop a lotus baseposed of three rows of petals rising from furled lily pads and lotus buds amid waves and dew drops, his hands held above the crossed legs, wearing loose-fitting robes draped over his left shoulder, the right arm with a beaded armlet. His serene face with heavy-lidded downcast eyes centered by an urna. The hair arranged in tight spikes around the domed ushnisha.Inscriptions: To the back, within a double gourd, ‘de hua’, above an impressedmendation seal mark, ‘boji yuren’ (shall virtue extend to all fishermen).Provenance: Sotheby’s London, 17 March 1964, lot 38, together with a seated figure of Guanyin, dated 18th century. Dr. Wou Kiuan, acquired from the above. Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. . A copy of the catalog entry for the present lot at Sotheby’s London, 17 March 1964, lot 38, noting the buyer “Wou” and a purchase price of eighty-four British pounds, approximately three months’ salary at the time, apanies this lot. Dr. Wou Kiuan (1910-1997) was a Chinese diplomat and noted scholar of Chinese art. His father, Wou Lien-Pai (1873-1944), was one the leading political figures of early 20th century China, remembered for his role as speaker and leader of parliament during the turbulent years of the Republican era. Dr. Wou himself embarked on an illustrious career in diplomacy until his retirement in 1952, when he settled in London and devoted the rest of his life to the study of Chinese art. It was no doubt fortuitous that Dr. Wou’s years of collecting coincided with an abundant availability of exceptional Chinese art on the London market. From the mid-1950s to the late 1960s he was able to form a collection of well over 1,000 works that together represented virtually every category of Chinese art. At the heart of Dr. Wou’s drive to collect was a burning desire to preserve the relics of China’s rich historical past scattered across Europe, and to promote Chinese art and culture. It is unclear when Dr. Wou conceived of the idea to create a place to house his collection, but in 1968 he opened the doors to the Wou Lien-Pai Museum, named in honor of his father. Over the years the Museum became a ‘must see’ destination for collectors, academics, and visiting dignitaries, and Dr. Wou would delight in leading his visitors through the galleries, recounting stories of China’s glorious history.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and firing irregularities, including small glaze recesses, firing cracks, and kiln grit, the lotus petal tips with few tiny nicks.Weight: 1,428 gDimensions: Height 32.3 cmAuction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s Paris, 18 December 2012, lot 160Price: EUR 19,950 or approx.EUR 23,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A blanc-de-chine figure of Buddha, Qing dynasty, 19th