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TABLE LAMP WITH GUANDI, DAOIST GOD OF WAR, ROOF TILE

Creator(s): Unknown

Currently in storage


About this object

This lamp incorporates a Ming dynasty earthenware roof tile in the form of Guandi, the Daoist God of War, on horseback. The god is turning to his left while the horse, depicted with an elaborate briddle and saddle, faces forward and lifts its left front leg. The figure is glazed in sancai, or "three-color" glazes of straw, green, and brown. It has been mounted on a chased silver-gilt base and converted into a lamp likely during the 1920s in New York City. The sancai, or three-color glaze, originated during the Tang dynasty (618-906) and was used extensively on tomb figures. Guandi, the Daoist God of War, was historically a military hero, Guan Yu, who was a literati, or scholar-gentleman, during the Han dynasty. Along with Liu Bei, a member of the royal family, and Chang Fei, a former butcher, he helped to raise an army to reunite their country as recounted in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms (see 26.259.3). Although called three colors, the glazes are not necessarily limited to that number. Iron oxide in varying amounts is added to a clear glaze base to produce light yellows such as straw, amber, and brown. Copper oxide is used to create a range of greens, and cobalt oxide for blues.

The lamp incorporates an earthenware roof tile in the form of Guandi, the Daoist God of War, on horseback. The god is turning to his left while the horse, depicted with an elaborate briddle and saddle, faces forward and lifts its left front leg as if to step forward. The figure is glazed in sancai, or "three-color" glazes of straw, green, and brown. It has been mounted on a chased silver-gilt base and converted into a lamp likely during the 1920s in New York City.

Object name:
TABLE LAMP WITH GUANDI, DAOIST GOD OF WAR, ROOF TILE
Made from:
Earthernware with sancai glazes mounted in silver-gilt
Made in:
CHINA
Date made:
17th c.
Size:
41.9 × 27.9 cm (16 1/2 × 11 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
27.46
Class:
CERAMICS
Signature marks:
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973