De Hua Bodhidharma Figure, Qing Dynasty, 18th Century

A large well modelled De Hua figure of Bodhidharma Qing Dynasty, 18th century, standing on a reed floating above the domed base of crested waves, wearing a long flowing robe draped over one shoulder leaving the other bare, and falling in layered folds to his bare feet, his hands concealed beneath the wide sleeves, his head turned to the side and face with well defined features in an attentive gaze, coiled locks of hair forMing the eyebrows, moustache, beard and curls above his ears, covered overall in a white glaze, an impressed double gourd kiln mark De Hua and a four-character seal mark Pu ji yu ren (virtue extends to all even fishermen) on the reverse, 55 cm high. Provenance: Private Collection, Melbourne. Private Collection, Melbourne, by descent from the above, Bodhidharma was a monk of Indian origin who travelled to China in the sixth century, his teaching became the foundation of Chan Buddhism. He was thought to have crossed the Yangtze river standing barefoot on a reed., Compare with a figure illustrated by P.J. Donnelly, Blanc-de-Chine, frontispiece, and another from the Collection of Mr and Mrs R.H. Palmer, illustrated in T.O.C.S., 1955-56, 1956-57, no. 95, dated to the 17th century