J.J. Lally & Co., Oriental Art / New York City, New York

Shisou is one of the most famous names in Chinese metalwork. His work is widely renowned for the skillful use of silver and gold wire inlays in bronze sculptures and objects for the scholar’s studio, but very little is known about the man. He is recorded by Yu in Zhongguo meishujia renming cidian (Dictionary of Chinese Artist Names) as a retired monk and metalsmith active in the late Ming period, but his proper name, place of birth and date of birth are unknown. The strong similarity of imagery, pose and style of the present figure with late Ming white porcelain figures of Wen Chang made at the Dehua kilns in Fujian province suggests that Shisou may have worked in Fujian, but he also may have been active in any of several artistic centers in the Jiangnan region.

Wen Chang was worshipped by the Chinese literati seeking success in the civil service examinations which was the key to power, status and security in imperial China. The cranes on Wen Chang’s court robes were emblematic of the highest rank of Ming dynasty civil official – the ultimate prize sought by the literati.

A similarly modelled Dehua white porcelain figure of Wen Chang dressed in Ming court regalia and seated on rockwork is illustrated by Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, Volume Two, London, 1994, pp. 302-303, no. 1004.

Compare also the Cizhou-type stoneware figure of Wen Chang in the British Museum from the Eumorfopoulos Collection, inscribed with the cyclical date Wanli dingyou (corresponding to 1597), illustrated by Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 444, no. 14:17.