A BROWN GLAZED POTTERY WHISTLE OF A PROTECTIVE DEITY, JIN DYNASTY
Lot 111 - SING0925

China, 1115 – 1234. Molded as a protective deity with a whimsical expression, wide-set eyes, and an open mouth revealing his teeth, seated with legs crossed. The figure is adorned with a beaded necklace and wears a robe with heavy folds, open at the front to reveal a large belly. With a blowing aperture at the top and a finger aperture on the back. The front mostly covered with a thin greenish-brown glaze, the backside revealing the buff ware.

Provenance: V. Li, Casey Building, Hong Kong, 2013. Collection of Dr. Koos de Jong, acquired from the above. A Dutch art historian and collector, Dr. Koos de Jong has worked across several cultural institutions in the Netherlands from 1976, serving as the director of the European Ceramic Work Center in Den Bosch between 1999-2009, before retiring in 2009. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books on Dutch fine and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the modern era. His scholarly interests expanded to Chinese material culture, culminating in the 2013 publication of Dragon & Horse: Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond, a pioneering study on Chinese equestrian gear. Continuing this line of inquiry, his more recent book published in 2021, Small China: Early Chinese Miniatures, explores the largely overlooked world of Chinese miniature objects, combining archaeological research with art historical insight.
Condition: Good condition with minor wear and firing irregularities. Few small chips along the foot, probably inherent to the firing process.

Weight: 73.8 g
Dimensions: Height 6.6 cm

The present lot is a variation from the clay or ceramic whistle known as xun, which is among the oldest musical instruments in China. The xun was initially made of baked clay or bone in an egg-shaped form, usually containing three finger holes in front and two thumb holes in the back.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related Song dynasty miniature figure of Butai, 5.8 cm high, in the Smithsonian Institute, National Museum of Asian Art, accession number S2012.9.3291