Glazed porcelain Buddha sculpture ‘Geyao’, Qing dynasty

Porcelain representation of the ‘Smiling Buddha’. He is shown seated, with his legs bent, and his arms stretched out, resting on both legs.  His expression is abundant and jovial, with his eyes half-open, his nose wide and his mouth open in a smile.  With his left hand he holds the fabric of his tunic, creating masterfully moulded wrinkles; in his right hand, he carries a coiled ‘Yapa mala’. 

The piece is covered with a beautiful ‘Geyao’ glaze (哥窑), of a soft ochre colour, where the crackled texture stands out.  The glazed ware known as ‘Geyao’ belongs to the celadon category because of its colour, which can range from bluish-grey to light greenish-blue to cream. The most distinctive feature is the elegant grey-black or yellow-apricot crackle.

Size: 11.4 x 11.5 x 15 cm