A RARE WHITE GLAZED FIGURE OF A SEATED BUDAI, DEHUA, SIGNED XU YOUYI (CHINA 1887-1940)Expert's note: On the back of this figure, a neatly impressed square seal mark states Xu Yuyuan-zhi ("produced by Xu Yuyuan"). For a long-time the origin of this seal was not known, though some authors and experts misidentified the name as that of a Qing potter. A recent study by a noted dehua expert sheds light on the matter. Brought up in a family of Buddhist figure-makers, Xu Youyi (1887-1940), was rewarded with gold medals for his works, which were selected for international art fairs in Japan, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.The best figures carry his seal marks, mostmonly Xu Yunlin (his nickname) and Xu Yuyuan (his shop name). This piece clearly reflects the late Ming dehua style, with a distinct modernist nuance to it, apparently a hallmark of this artist. Also see John Ayers, Blanc de Chine: Divine Images in Porcelain, China Institute, New York, 2002, page 34, where the author notes that the potter Xu Youyi (1887-1940) used this specific square seal mark.The Laughing Buddha well modeled with his left arm resting on a tied sack to his side, dressed in a long, flowing garment open at the front to reveal his protuberant stomach, holding a large prayer bead in his right hand, the face with an exuberantly joyful expression, flanked by long earlobes, all under a creamy and thick white glaze.Inscriptions: The back impressed with the seal mark 'Xu Yuyuan zhi'Provenance: French trade.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and manufacturing flaws including firing cracks with associated minor losses.Weight: 1,432 gDimensions: Height 18.1 cmAuction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 27 March 2018, lot 64Price: USD 5,250 or approx.EUR 5,600 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A dehua figure of seated Budai, 17th-18th centuryExpert remark:pare the related pose and color of the glaze. Note that this example is the late Ming prototype for the present lot.Auction resultparison:Type: A work by the same artistAuction: Sotheby's New York, 20 March 2007, lot 778Price: USD 12,000 or approx.EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A 'Blanc-de-Chine' figure of Guanyin with crown, late 19th / early 20th century十七至十八世紀許裕源製德化白釉布袋和尚中國。布袋和尚造型精良，左臂擱在身旁繫著的麻袋上，身著僧衣，前襟敞開，露出隆起的大肚子，右手執一顆大佛珠，面帶快樂的表情，兩側是長長的耳垂，通體施白釉。專家注釋：此瓷像底部有"許裕源製"。此款識被一些作者和專家誤認為是清代陶藝家的名字，直到一位著名的德化瓷專家糾正了這個看法。許友義（1887-1940）成長於佛像製作世家，作品獲金獎，入選日本、臺灣、英國等國際藝博會。有他款識的瓷佛，最常見的是許雲林（他的暱稱）和許裕源（他的工作坊名）。 這件作品明顯有晚明德化風格，並帶有明顯的現代主義色彩，顯然是這位藝術家的標誌，見 John Ayers，《Blanc de Chine: Divine Images in Porcelain, China Institute》，紐約，2002年，頁34。款識：許裕源製