This figurine of Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) portrays her seated on a pedestal with lotus growing on it. She is also carrying a baby, who is holding a lotus bud, on her lap. Interestingly, there are traces of lacquer left on Guanyin’s neck and arms. The use of lacquer is unusual as mainly enamels or cold paints are used on Dehua pieces.Guanyin is sometimes worshipped as ‘Song zi Guanyin’ (送子观音， ‘Giver of Children’) due to her fertility-bestowing powers. There have been views that figurines of Guanyin holding a baby at Dehua were influenced by the European demands for ivory Madonna and child figurines during the late Ming period.Dehua porcelain rose to international significance around the 17th century and inspired aristocratic patronage in the development of new European porcelain. Its popularity at home and abroad continued and the kilns at Dehua remain prolific to this day.
