Lot 6006. Property from an old Hong Kong family collection. A Dehua figure of seated Guanyin, He Chaozong mark, 17th-18th century; 23.2 cm. Lot Sold 896,000 HKD (Estimate 400,000 - 600,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2026

Note: Dehua figures, celebrated in the West as blanc de Chine, embody the quiet radiance of Fujian porcelain. Modelled in an ivory-white body and covered with a soft, luminous glaze, they transform the bodhisattva of compassion into an image of serene presence. From elegant standing figures poised upon clouds to richly conceived images of the white-robed Guanyin seated in contemplation, such as the present piece, these sculptures unite devotional meaning with refined artistry. Their gently flowing garments, tranquil expressions, and restrained monochrome surfaces demonstrate Dehua’s distinctive mastery of porcelain, in which material purity becomes spiritual luminosity and subtle modelling lends the seemingly weightless clay an enduring sense of grace. Compare also a similar seated Guanyin, impressed with a three-character seal reading He Chaoshui within a double gourd, recently sold in our New York rooms, 17th September 2026, lot 220.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 30 October 2026