Seated Buddha

On the back of this figure, a gourd-shaped seal mark reads dehua and a square seal states Xu Yuyuan-zhi ("produced by Xu Yuyuan"). For a long-time the origin of this seal was not known, though one author misidentified the name as that of a Qing potter (WW 1987.8: pl. 5.3). A recent study by a dehua expert sheds light on the matter. Brought up in a family of Buddhist figure-makers, Xu Youyi (1887-1940), was rewarded with gold medals for his works, which were selected for international art fairs in Japan, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The best figures carry his seal marks, most commonly Xu Yunlin (his nickname) and Xu Yuyuan (his shop name). This piece was one of his best, reflecting the Ming dehua style, made in the early twentieth century.